Will the original Path of Exile receive updates once Path of Exile 2 goes live?
The future of Path of Exile has once again become a topic of conversation, as the game faces a lengthy delay to its upcoming 3.26 expansion. Despite the delays to PoE and PoE2, all sources indicate that Grinding Gear Games plans to support Path of Exile in the foreseeable future, with at least one expansion slated for a 2025 release.
Path of Exile's ongoing Settlers of Kalguur expansion launched on July 26, 2024. Given the timeframe of a standard PoE expansion, players would naturally expect the release of new content or at least an announcement of a new expansion. However, players received a double-pronged bad news of delays across the board.
Path of Exile will continue to receive support for the foreseeable future
The answer to whether Path of Exile will receive updates after Path of Exile 2's release is a two-parter.
First, Path of Exile 2 is still some time away from being a full-release title. It is aiming for its big Early Access event starting December 6, 2024. This Early Access will allow players to test out all the basic features of the game, the myriad of new Ascendancies, the skill gem system, and explore the passive tree in all of its glory.
Path of Exile, meanwhile, will continue to receive support for the foreseeable future. Grinding Gear Games has already confirmed the development of the 3.26 expansion, with the studio aiming for the launch window of late January.
The ongoing Settlers of Kalguur expansion has been extended and will continue well into 2025. Furthermore, on November 7, 2024, the Settlers of Kalguur event will begin and run alongside the challenge league.
Grinding Gear Games has addressed the greater concern regarding Path of Exile's future after PoE2's release. During the 2023 ExileCon, the developer confirmed PoE2's status as a standalone title and that both PoE and PoE2 would have an independent update schedule to allow players to enjoy both games. Furthermore, the titles will share compatible in-game purchases.
No long-term projects have been announced for Path of Exile beyond 3.26. Both titles are massive design-wise and cost huge resources to develop simultaneously.
It is safe to assume that Path of Exile's future will depend on player feedback and reception to PoE2. All in all, ARPG fans will have a lot of content to sink their teeth into for the foreseeable future.