Grinding Gear Games co-founder and Path of Exile director Jonathan Rogers has apologized to longtime fans while confirming yet another delay for update 3.26. With the team deeply immersed in developing Path of Exile 2, resources have been stretched thin, making it increasingly difficult to keep up with ongoing updates for Path of Exile 1.
Path of Exile 2 underwent an extensive development process, transitioning from a simple update for Path of Exile 1 into a full-fledged sequel. Upon its release, the game fulfilled its promise of delivering an enhanced PoE experience with improved graphics and mechanics. However, as it remains in early access, Grinding Gear Games continues to refine it based on player feedback. This ongoing development has required the reallocation of resources initially designated for Path of Exile 1, resulting in delays for upcoming content in the original game.
In a recent video, Path of Exile director Jonathan Rogers apologized to fans while announcing that update 3.26 will be delayed until Path of Exile 2 patch 0.2.0 goes live. He reassured players of Grinding Gear Games' dedication to expanding PoE 1 but admitted that meeting those expectations has been difficult. The delay stems from the aftermath of Path of Exile: Settlers of Kalguur in July 2024, when the team initially targeted an October release for update 3.26. However, with PoE 2 entering early access, development became more complicated, ultimately pushing the update’s release to February.
Grinding Gear Games to Start Development on Update 3.26 Following PoE 2 Patch 0.2.0 Release
However, as Rogers clarified, the February release was never an "official" plan but rather an internal goal shared with a limited audience. As a result, the community began anticipating a February launch, leading to growing impatience among players eager for news about Path of Exile 1 as the month drew closer.
Rogers acknowledged that the sheer scope of Path of Exile 2’s endgame was the main factor behind shifting resources away from Path of Exile 1. Once PoE 2 entered early access, the team had to tackle a wave of issues and player feedback, making it even harder to continue work on PoE 1. “We still have a lot to learn about how to run two games simultaneously,” Rogers admitted.
The director acknowledged that the studio's top priority is stabilizing Path of Exile 2 by resolving major issues, which means work on update 3.26 will not begin until after the release of PoE 2 patch 0.2.0. While this may be disappointing for PoE 1 fans, Rogers reassured them of Grinding Gear Games's commitment to delivering the update as soon as possible and confirmed that pre-production work would gradually commence.
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