Path of Exile 2 Has Arrived — Sort Of

Grinding Gear Games officially launched Path of Exile 2 into Early Access, giving players their first real hands-on experience with the long-awaited action RPG sequel. While the game isn't a full release yet, the Early Access build includes a substantial amount of content — enough for dozens, even hundreds, of hours of gameplay for dedicated fans.

Here's everything you need to know about what's in the game right now and what's coming down the road.

What's Included in Early Access

  • Three Acts – The Early Access launch includes the first three of a planned six-act campaign, offering a full narrative arc and a significant slate of zones, bosses, and story content.
  • Six Character Classes – Players can choose from Warrior, Ranger, Sorceress, Monk, Mercenary, and Witch at launch. Additional classes will be added during Early Access.
  • Endgame: The Atlas of Worlds – The endgame mapping system returns, offering procedurally modified maps, powerful pinnacle bosses, and deep build-optimization loops.
  • Hundreds of Skills – Unlike PoE 1, skills are now tied to weapons and gems separately, opening up massive build diversity without Skill Gem socketing constraints.

Major Changes from Path of Exile 1

PoE 2 is not simply an expansion — it's a ground-up rethinking of many core systems:

  1. New Dodge Roll Mechanic – Combat is slower and more deliberate. A dedicated dodge roll replaces the flask-chugging survival strategy of PoE 1, bringing the game closer to Elden Ring's feel.
  2. Separated Skill Gems – Support gems no longer need to be socketed in the same item as active skill gems. This dramatically simplifies early gearing while preserving depth.
  3. New Passive Skill Tree – A redesigned and visually overhauled passive tree replaces the iconic (and notorious) massive web of PoE 1.
  4. Ruthless-Inspired Pacing – The campaign pacing is more deliberate, with enemies and bosses feeling more threatening at baseline.

How to Access Early Access

Path of Exile 2 Early Access requires a paid Founder's Pack purchase, which grants access to the current build and guarantees access to the full free-to-play launch when it arrives. Packs come in multiple tiers with various cosmetic bonuses. The base-tier pack gives full game access with no gameplay advantages — just cosmetics for additional spending.

Planned Content Updates

GGG has outlined a roadmap for Early Access that includes:

  • Additional character classes (Druid, Templar, and more)
  • Acts 4 through 6 to complete the main campaign
  • New endgame mechanics and league-style content
  • Ongoing balance patches responding to community feedback

Should You Play It Now?

If you're a fan of action RPGs and deep build crafting, Path of Exile 2 is already worth jumping into. The Early Access state is polished and content-rich compared to most games at this stage. However, if you prefer waiting for complete experiences, the free-to-play full launch will eventually include everything without a buy-in.

Either way, PoE 2 is shaping up to be one of the most significant action RPG releases in years — and the community is buzzing with excitement.