PoE 1 Development Halted Until PoE 2 0.2.0 Launch

The Path of Exile developers have issued an apology to fans of the original game after postponing a major update until critical fixes for Path of Exile 2 are implemented.

Grinding Gear Games previously assured players they'd continue supporting Path of Exile 1 – running strong for over a decade – through Path of Exile 2's early access period and beyond. However, the planned 3.26 update for PoE1 has faced repeated delays, originally slated for late October before PoE2's launch, then pushed to mid-February.

With all resources focused on resolving PoE2's issues, PoE1's last content update remains the Settlers of Kalguur league from July 2024.

GGG co-founder Jonathan Rogers explained in a developer update that while they initially reassigned PoE1's team temporarily to polish PoE2's endgame systems, unforeseen complications made returning to PoE1 development impossible.

"We were overly optimistic," Rogers admitted, citing PoE2's crash reports and balance issues that demanded immediate attention. "How could we pull veteran developers from PoE2 when it desperately needed their expertise?"

He revealed ongoing difficulties managing simultaneous development cycles:

"We're still figuring out how to maintain both games effectively. Our structure needs refinement, though we do have concrete plans for PoE1's 3.26 update — I just can't commit to timelines yet."

The apology comes after Path of Exile 2's blockbuster December 2024 launch across PC and consoles, where it became Steam's 15th most-played title historically.

For those exploring PoE2's early access, we've compiled starter guides covering class selection, Mercenary/Sorceress builds, Spirit acquisition, trading mechanics, and Ascendancy progression.