With Path of Exile 2 (short PoE2), the successor to the popular action RPG was brought into Early Access on Steam and PS5 in 2024. MeinMMO provides all information about the release, crossplay, system requirements, and whether the game works on the Steam Deck.
When will the official release start? The full release of the game is expected to take place between six and twelve months after the start of the Early Access phase. Therefore, a release can be expected between May 2025 and December 2025.
When does the Early Access start? The Early Access of Path of Exile 2 started on December 6, 2024, at 8:00 PM. Originally, the action RPG was supposed to start in beta, but it has now been confirmed that the game will initially be available in Early Access on Steam, via Epic Games Store, the in-house PC client, PS5, and XBOX.
What does the Early Access of Path of Exile 2 look like? PoE2 will initially be in Early Access for an indefinite period. This means the game will not be released with all features and will continue to be developed gradually.
The campaign of the game will also be presented only in a shortened form. Adventurers can only play Acts 1-3. Acts 4-6 will be replaced by Acts 1-3 in “Cruel Mode”. This mode has the same content but plays a little faster and more difficult than the original acts. The campaign is expected to take about 25 hours to complete.
Here you can watch the trailer for PoE2, which shows you how the bosses in the game are created:
Path of Exile 2 on Console: PS5, XBOX, and Steam Deck
On which consoles will it be released? Path of Exile 2 will be released on PS5. To play it on the PlayStation 5, you will need a PlayStation Plus subscription.
PoE2 will also be released on the XBOX Series X|S. To play on the XBOX, you will need an “Xbox Game Pass Core” subscription or an “Xbox Game Pass Ultimate” subscription.
Is Path of Exile 2 available on PS4? No, PoE2 will not be available on PlayStation 4. However, the game is available for the successor PS5.
Do you have to buy PoE2 to play it? Path of Exile 2 will initially only be accessible to supporters who have purchased a package for at least €30. Once the game is released as a full version, it will be available to everyone for free.
Additionally, you will be able to participate in the Early Access of Path of Exile 2 if you have previously purchased a top-tier supporter package or if you have invested $480 or more in the predecessor Path of Exile (on a single platform) throughout the game’s lifespan.
Can you play Path of Exile 2 on the Steam Deck? Yes, Path of Exile 2 will work on the Steam Deck. Current test versions run well in 40 FPS mode, as game director Jonathan Rogers revealed in a conversation with MeinMMO.
Do I need a new account? PoE and Path of Exile 2 run on the same account. If you have already registered an account for Path of Exile, you will also find your EA access for Path of Exile 2 there. Additionally, you will have access in PoE2 to all microtransactions made in PoE.
The Classes in Early Access and Genderlock
With the Early Access launch, the following six classes will be available in Path of Exile 2:
- Monk
- Warrior
- Ranger
- Mercenary
- Witch
- Sorceress
Is there a gender lock? As in the predecessor, the classes of Path of Exile 2 are fixed, predefined characters that can hardly be customized. For example, you cannot change the predefined gender again. A witch is always female, a monk is always male.
Will there be a passive tree again? Yes, the large passive skill tree will also be available in Path of Exile 2. The developers revealed to us that it will differ from the tree of the predecessor and is even supposed to be even larger. However, it should still be possible to gain additional skill points through level-ups and quests throughout the game.
What else is known about the scope? According to the developers, you can expect an extensive campaign with three acts, 50 bosses, 400 monster types, and various endgame content. More information can be found here:
Crossplay, Couch-Coop, and Cross-Progression
Does Path of Exile 2 support crossplay and cross-progression? Both features will be supported by Path of Exile 2. This means you can play with your friends even if you are on different platforms. And if you want to use different platforms yourself, you can easily do so without having to own multiple accounts.
Does Path of Exile 2 support couch co-op? In May 2024, the developers announced the special platform features of Path of Exile 2. This includes couch co-op. You can sit with a buddy in front of a platform and go loot hunting together. In couch co-op, you can also navigate through different menus like the inventory or talent tree at the same time.
Path of Exile 2: System Requirements PC – Full HD, 1440p, and 4K
What should you consider? The system requirements for Path of Exile 2 may change in the coming months. Because at this time (as of November 2024), the action RPG is still an “Early Access” title.
Minimum requirements:
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Processor: 4 core 2.8GHz x64-compatible
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or ATI Radeon RX 470
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband internet connection
- Storage: 100 GB of available storage space
The developers point out that your graphics card must have at least 3 GB of VRAM to start the game.
Recommended requirements:
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i5-10500 or AMD Ryzen 5 3700X
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, Intel Arc™ A770, or ATI Radeon RX 5600XT
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband internet connection
- Storage: 100 GB of available storage space
PoE2 benefits from an SSD hard drive; therefore, the developers recommend you install the game on such a drive.
Originally, the release of PoE2 was planned for an earlier date. However, the developers announced that the launch would be postponed to ensure that you do not lose anything from the first part that you have already purchased: The release is postponed so that you do not lose anything from the predecessor that you have purchased.
