Grinding Gear Games sets Path of Exile 2 reveal for nov. 3

Grinding Gear Games has set the full reveal of Path of Exile 2 version 1.0 for Nov. 3, 2026, with the game scheduled to exit paid early access and launch as a free-to-play title on Dec. 11, 2026. The November 3 presentation is positioned as the comprehensive briefing on the full launch, covering gameplay improvements, endgame content, new features, class updates and additional surprises. The showcase is intended to detail everything players need for the December 11 full launch. The Dec. 11 date marks the end of the paid early access period and the start of the game as a free-to-play title.

Khel Now’s reporter said, “Grinding Gear Games has now officially confirmed that the Path of Exile 2 1.0 reveal is going to take place on November 3, 2026.” A release trailer accompanied the announcement, but the cryptic video reveals no detailed information about the full launch.

Other outlets give different dates for the version 1.0 presentation. PCGamesN dates Exilecon 2026 in Auckland, New Zealand, to Nov. 7-8, 2026. Notebookcheck places a version 1.0 broadcast at Exilecon on Nov. 6 at 12:30 PM PST. GamingBolt and Khel Now set the reveal for Nov. 3.

Grinding Gear Games has confirmed the Duelist class and swords for version 1.0, raising the count of playable classes to nine. The Duelist was confirmed in advance of the 1.0 reveal, and adding swords as a weapon type alongside it introduces new build possibilities. Path of Exile 2 launched into early access with six playable classes before the Huntress and Druid arrived in subsequent updates.

The Marauder, Templar and Shadow were the three original Path of Exile classes absent during early access, while the neutral Scion has never been discussed for Path of Exile 2. Adding two base classes at once at full release would be a first for the game. The Druid update that brought the class into the game also added performance optimizations for players with low frame rates.

Grinding Gear Games released a 31-second teaser video titled “Become the Darkness” on Oct. 30, 2026. The atmospheric video strongly suggests the Shadow class could join Path of Exile 2 at version 1.0, though the studio has not officially confirmed it. The dagger is closely tied to the Shadow class, which was absent from the game throughout early access.

Perandus coins appear in the teaser. They trace to Path of Exile 1’s 2016 Perandus League and later to the Immortal Syndicate of the 2018 Betrayal League. The presence of these legacy coins has fueled community speculation about which old league or mechanic might return to the 1.0 update. Some players have suggested the new league could be a reimagining of Heist, where players move quietly through a facility to steal loot and escape before guards raise an alert.

Other players have wondered whether version 1.0 might add all four missing original classes at once.

Khel Now assessed the early access period as successful, pointing to challenging combat, deep character customization, an atmospheric world and darker storytelling. The outlet included this assessment in its article confirming the November 3 reveal and the December 11 free-to-play launch, presenting early access as a strong lead-in to the full release. For players who purchased early access, the Dec. 11 launch marks the end of the paid access period and the beginning of the game as a free-to-play title.

Grinding Gear Games launched Path of Exile 2 into paid early access with six playable classes and has been adding content since. As of late 2025, Game Director Jonathan Rogers indicated version 1.0 might not ship with all 12 planned classes, prioritizing a finished campaign, robust endgame, and balance. The studio originally targeted a March 2026 full launch, but that window slipped and was acknowledged as unrealistic by late 2025; Rogers later said he was fairly confident the game would not fall into 2027. The Duelist class and swords were later confirmed for version 1.0, and a “Become the Darkness” teaser released in late October 2026 hinted at the Shadow class joining at launch.

Rogers cited three outstanding development items for version 1.0 as of late 2025: an unfinished six-act campaign, an endgame needing long-term additions, and balance adjustments because some builds and classes outpaced others, such as Lightning Arrow rangers, which Rogers pointed to as an overpowered build. KitGuru reported that major updates for Path of Exile 2 had arrived somewhat slowly, which the outlet cited as a reason the targeted March 2026 launch window now appears unrealistic. Path of Exile 2 had spent approximately one year in early access as of December 2025, on the long road to version 1.0. The Dec. 12, 2025 update introduced the Druid class and new performance optimizations for players struggling with frame rates, with even high-end PCs reportedly needing the improvements in high-level endgame content.

Grinding Gear Games said it will do everything possible to prevent version 1.0 from slipping into 2027.