The Path of Exile 2 1.0 release date is December 11, 2026, and Grinding Gear Games has now shown what the full launch contains. At ExileCon 2026 the studio revealed the new Shadow class, the final two campaign acts, a strategy-style challenge league and a reworked endgame, all arriving in a free update on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

It is the end of two years of early access for one of the most played action RPGs on Steam, and the biggest single update the game has received so far.

Official Path of Exile 2 gameplay screenshot from Grinding Gear Games
Path of Exile 2 leaves early access on December 11 and stays free-to-play. Image: Grinding Gear Games

Path of Exile 2 1.0: release date, platforms and price

Grinding Gear Games first locked in the date at gamescom in August, and the ExileCon 2026 announcements confirmed it again. The key details:

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  • Date: December 11, 2026 (Pacific time).
  • Platforms: PC (Steam, Epic Games Store and the standalone client), PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The full release also marks the game's Mac debut, for M2-series Macs and newer plus M1 Pro systems, and it is Steam Deck Verified.
  • Price: free-to-play. You no longer need an early access pack to get in; optional purchases cover cosmetics and extra stash tabs, and they are shared with the original Path of Exile.

Players can also register on the official site before December 10 to unlock launch rewards, which grow as more people sign up.

The Shadow class and the Duelist's Knight Ascendancy

The headline reveal is the Shadow, a dagger class built around stealth and traps. Stealth is its core tool, and killing enemies resets its cooldown. It can lay up to eight trap types that detonate in the order you placed them when you leave stealth, summon Shades that copy your attacks, and spend a new resource called Darkness on stealth strikes. An ability named Eclipse turns your regular attacks into stealth strikes for a short time. Its two Ascendancies are Assassin and Infiltrator.

The Duelist, the sword class announced earlier, also launches with 1.0. ExileCon detailed its first Ascendancy, the Knight, which fights alongside a Squire companion, plants War Banners and can perform a Mounted Charge. The second Duelist Ascendancy, Master of Arms, will arrive later.

Official Path of Exile 2 screenshot of combat in Wraeclast
The Shadow brings daggers, traps and stealth to Path of Exile 2. Image: Grinding Gear Games

Acts 5 and 6 finish the campaign

The 1.0 update completes the story with Acts 5 and 6. Players return to Oriath, now ravaged by war and corruption, through slums, abandoned noble estates, a desecrated temple district and a grand arena. Coverage of the reveal puts the new content at 24 new areas and 18 new bosses, plus more than 70 new rare encounters.

Conquerors of Wraeclast league and endgame changes

The launch league, Conquerors of Wraeclast, adds castle building, siege battles and territorial conquest. You recruit soldiers from more than 70 points of interest, upgrade a castle and fight rival factions loyal to the vampire lord Severa for control of up to 100 castles on the Atlas. Up to three independent Commanders can run maps for you, and holding castles grants bonuses such as extra item rarity and access to hunting grounds.

Official Path of Exile 2 screenshot of an endgame encounter
Conquerors of Wraeclast turns the endgame Atlas into a map of castles to capture. Image: Grinding Gear Games

The endgame itself gets a new storyline, more than 25 new maps where the campaign bosses return, a new pinnacle boss and an Atlas passive tree cut from over 300 nodes to about 70. Grinding Gear Games is also adding over 40 new unique items and reworking more than 70, and it promises up to 25% better CPU performance with lower memory use.

What it means for players, and what comes next

For newcomers, 1.0 is the natural starting point: the full campaign, a fresh league and no entry fee. If you are not sure your computer can handle it, check our guide on how to know if your PC can run a game. Veterans should expect a new economy and major class reworks, including the Mercenary, Infernalist, Blood Mage and Acolyte of Chayula.

Before that, the original Path of Exile gets its own expansion, Covens of Umbra, on November 13. Full patch notes for Path of Exile 2 1.0 are expected closer to launch. Looking for something to play in the meantime? See our list of the best free-to-play games.

Official Path of Exile 2 action screenshot
The 1.0 update adds a new pinnacle boss and over 25 new endgame maps. Image: Grinding Gear Games

Is Path of Exile 2 free at 1.0?

Yes. From December 11 the game is free-to-play on every platform, and future expansions are planned as free updates too.

Is Path of Exile 2 coming to Mac?

Yes. Mac support launches with 1.0 on M2-series Macs and newer, as well as M1 Pro systems.