On December 6, 2024, the Early Access of Path of Exile 2 launched on all platforms. The rush is enormous and causes problems, but with our live ticker, you will be kept informed about the release, the preload, the server status, and developer news.
Saturday, 07.12.2024
4:00 PM
Currently, there are still issues in the queue. Some players report that they are getting into the game after just a few minutes, but then get disconnected again and have to queue up once more. Some players report waiting times of over 18,000 players.
Connection interrupted, queuing with 16,000 players, wait 5-10 minutes, select character and press “Play”, connection is immediately interrupted and thrown into a queue with 19,000 players. Another 10 minutes wait, the same happens with character selection and connection interruption.
3:50 PM
The servers are back online after a patch. Players report on Steam that they are facing long queues again. If you are queuing, you have 12,000 to 15,000 players ahead of you who also want to play. Patience is required at the moment.
10:20 AM
Good morning! The developers managed to fix most issues last night (December 6). If you try to log in now, you should be able to play without any problems.
The key redemption on the official website is also working smoothly now.
1:00 AM
We are now signing off and ending our ticker. Tomorrow (or later), we will check back in with a brief update regarding the server status and queue situation. Good night and have fun hacking!
Friday, 06.12.2024
11:55 PM
The servers seem to be running mostly stable. There are still three notes from the developers that they posted on the “Path of Exile” account on X:
- There is a problem where players in groups sometimes get randomly matched with other players. This will be fixed soon.
- If you are still stuck in the queue: The developers are currently allowing players in waves to ensure that they can monitor the backend and prevent overload.
- Some players cannot redeem their Steam keys due to issues with the “Path of Exile” website. This service will also be restored soon, and you should be able to log in to the website and pick up the key.
11:00 PM
Three hours after the planned Early Access launch, many players are finally able to log in to Path of Exile 2 – and actually play. We will keep you updated with any news or important information and wish you a great time gaming!
10:45 PM
Even Adam Fletcher, the community director of Diablo 4, is “one of us” and writes on X:
10:26 PM
Spoiler: It didn’t work. Now the login isn’t working, the connection is interrupted again directly. In the meantime, we will refresh ourselves and will be back with news shortly.
An update from the developers on X:
“We have encountered the same symptom again, but due to a different issue. We are working to fix it again, but unfortunately, every time this happens, we need to restart the servers and clear the databases to prevent them from getting into an error or corrupted state. We will provide the solution as soon as possible! Thank you again, and further updates will follow as soon as we know more.”
10:18 PM
And here we are again. Let’s see if it works this time:
10:00 PM
In the meantime, content creator and streamer Rob2628 on X jokes about how much “playtime” he already has in Path of Exile 2. By the way, we currently have 32 minutes.
9:46 PM
Brief login was possible, then new problems followed
And another update from the developers on X:
“We encountered a configuration issue and need to restart the realm. Please be patient while we fix the problem.”
Then in another post on X:
“The issue we encountered arose from the last-minute addition of more database shards to handle the massive player count. Unfortunately, an error caused multiple characters to receive the same character ID. Fortunately, the problem has now been identified and is being fixed. We greatly appreciate your patience and support during this time, and we will continue to provide you with updates as we learn more.”
9:40 PM
Log in via Steam is now functional, and we are correctly in the queue. It is moving slowly – but it is moving! How are things going for you?
Edit: Shortly after, we were kicked. It would have been too nice if it had worked right away. We will keep at it.
9:15 PM
In a new post from the developers on X, it now says:
“Relatively soon. – Jonathan“
(it presumably refers to the game director Jonathan Rogers)
9:00 PM
Another update from the developers on X:
“Another update: We found a last-minute crash that would have affected most users. We have now fixed it, and the fix is currently being deployed. Once that’s done, we will conduct our final checks and then open access. If further updates are needed, we will inform you immediately. Thank you once again for your patience – we are almost there!“
8:55 PM
Also, the German Twitch streamer HandofBlood is waiting along with two fellow streamers (Kalle Koschinsky and Rumathra) for the start of the PoE 2 servers (via X). Currently, over 46,000 people are watching him on Twitch.
8:35 PM
PoE 2 has been delayed by an hour so far
An update from the developers on X:
“We have implemented the new database configuration and are working to get everything up and running again. According to our current estimates, access should be possible again within the next half hour. Thank you once again for your support; we will continue to keep you updated.”
After the servers were supposed to go live at 8 PM, the Early Access has been delayed by about 60 minutes so far. We will, of course, continue to keep you updated.
8:30 PM
To pass the time, you can read the preview report on Path of Exile 2 by MeinMMO author Cedric Holmeier. He was able to try out the action RPG through a preview access. What makes Path of Exile 2 better and why it is worth it for newcomers and returnees, you can find out here:
8:15 PM
The viewer count for the “Path of Exile 2” category on Twitch is currently over 970,000 – and continues to rise. Twitch drops just went live. To secure cosmetics, you just need to watch someone streaming in the category.
Correction: Just under 3 minutes later, the category surpassed 1 million:
8:07 PM
On the Path of Exile 2 website, things are not looking better either:
8:00 PM
Path of Exile 2 has started Early Access! Steam is still unpacking for us. How are things going for you?
On X, the developers write:
“We are doing some last-minute database upgrades to handle the overwhelming number of Exiles preparing to log in to Path of Exile 2. We are trying to get this done as quickly as possible, but there may be a brief delay in bringing the servers online.“
In the comments, many players and streamers are understanding, some wish the developers good luck for the rush, while others are cheering them on.
7:42 PM
Path of Exile 2 has just moved to active downloads on Steam and seems to be unpacking. If that is not the case for you, try closing your Steam app completely and restarting it.
By the way: If you want to pass the time with PoE 1, the servers on all platforms are currently down and restarting.
7:30 PM
Half an hour left until it can (hopefully) begin!
In the skill tree on poe2db.tw you can already get an impression of the passive skills. In the upper right corner, you will find a search function as well as a selection of class and specialization.
You can find a build planner at mobalytics.gg.
7:25 PM
Will you play Path of Exile 2 alone or with friends? Or maybe even via couch co-op? If you plan to play cooperatively, we have all the important information for you here:
With two players, the couch co-op looks like this:
7:10 PM
Less than an hour until the gates of Early Access for Path of Exile 2 open – or at least the long queue in front of it. On the official PoE website, the last minutes of the countdown are currently running:
6:50 PM
On Steam, it is still not possible to start PoE 2. But it should be possible via the standalone client of the game. You can find out more about this at pathofexile.com.
Some players and content creators are apparently already taking their places in the queue. We would like to remind you that the patches leading up to the release will reset the queue and thus also your position according to a developer (via reddit.com).
6:10 PM
About two hours until the start of Early Access. Are you ready? Remember to stock up on snacks and drinks – and don’t forget to stand up occasionally and stretch your legs.
Some people are apparently preparing for the coming days (or rather weeks):
5:10 PM
Even Mike Ybarra, the former president of Blizzard, is preparing for the launch of Early Access for Path of Exile 2. And in his favorites on Steam, he has saved Diablo 4 and PoE 2 by the way:
4:20 PM
The content creator and streamer Rob2628 presents on X a tier list of the classes in Path of Exile 2 regarding the popularity of the ascendancy classes. Currently, most players seem to be eyeing the Sorceress and the Warrior for Early Access, but the Monk is also a popular choice.
4:00 PM
Streamers are giving away numerous keys for PoE 2
Just before the start of Early Access for PoE 2, numerous streamers on Twitch are giving away keys for the version of the game. So if you don’t have access yet, you can try your luck with the following Twitch streamers:
- wudijo (English-speaking)
- Rob2628 (English-speaking)
- DarthMicrotransaction (English-speaking)
- AnnacakeLIVE (English-speaking)
- jessirocks (German-speaking)
The Austrian jessirocks is one of the largest German-speaking streamers for Diablo 4. Now he is being unfaithful to the ARPG and says, Path of Exile has “bought him”.
As soon as Early Access starts, around 8 PM, the Twitch drops for Path of Exile 2 should also be available, allowing you to secure cosmetics.
3:45 PM
If you purchased one of the supporter packs of Path of Exile 2 on Steam, you can already download the game in advance. The size is 83.8 GB, and in the download manager, it will look like this after downloading:
3:29 PM
A shield from PoE 2 has already been shown and fans rave about the design and details. See for yourself:
2:55 PM
On X, the developers point out that there is an update for NVIDIA. To be ready for Path of Exile 2, you should update your graphics card drivers. We have just taken care of that:
2:47 PM
Regarding Early Access, a developer mentioned that the gem “Bind Spectre” cannot be available at launch due to technical issues. However, the team is working on a solution. (via reddit.com)
2:16 PM
The passive skill tree from Path of Exile 2 is a complex system for strengthening your character. If you want to know how it works, we have the right guide for you:
1:27 PM
Don’t forget to link your account with Twitch to watch a streamer of your choice. There are free drops with which you can decorate your hero. You can find more information about the rewards here:
1:00 PM
If you haven’t received an Early-Access key, you can try your luck in the PoE 2 subreddit. Generous players are giving away some keys to fans to celebrate the game’s launch together. (via reddit.com)
12:33 PM
You downloaded PoE 2 but don’t yet know which ascendancy classes to choose? Then MeinMMO author Karsten has the right overview for you with all the important information regarding this:
12:14 PM
Although PoE 2 poses competition to Diablo 4, the head of Diablo 4 will also be there during Early Access. He is already looking forward to the launch but doesn’t know which class to choose. (via x.com)
11:48 AM
Players are already placing themselves in the queue to start quickly at the release time, but you should refrain from doing this.
A developer on Discord mentioned that the patches that will follow before the release will reset the queue and thus also your placement. So, don’t let your device overheat unnecessarily. (via reddit.com)
11:23 AM
Preload also available on Steam
According to our readers and users on Reddit, the preload is now also available on Steam and without a separate client (via reddit.com). You can simply start the download. It is 86 GB according to OrcaNeuroSonic on MeinMMO.
11:04 AM
Good morning, heroes of exile! Our live ticker has just started. There is still a good amount of time until the start of Early Access, but now you should at least start the preload download on your platform. You can find more details here in our overview:
When does Path of Exile 2 start? The release of Early Access starts on December 6, 2024, at 8:00 PM German time. Fans could secure a place in Early Access by purchasing an Early Access key. If you have purchased one of the many supporter packs, you are also invited to Early Access.
As the head of Path of Exile 2 said, the start will be bumpy. The rush of participants is enormous, and the servers are currently not equipped for such a crowd of fans.
For this reason, we accompany the launch of Path of Exile 2 with a live ticker and provide you with the most important information about the server status, queues, and important announcements that you should know at launch.
Many fans participate in Early Access
What do fans say about the Early Access launch? We wanted to know from our community if they will be present at launch and if so, which supporter pack they would purchase. Many are confident and trust the developers. Up to 1,176 readers purchase the key for €30 and hundreds of them even buy the much more expensive supporter packs.
Paying for Early Access always comes with a lot of trust from the fans. You never know if the game is actually as good as the developers advertise, but our readers are confident. They trust the developers of PoE 2. Here’s what can be heard in the comments:
- “Because GGG deserves it. I think that is the best and rarest reason in the business.” – Chris
- “Exactly, 10 years of the best entertainment for free, GGG has also earned €30, and I even get in-game money to treat myself to some goodies. Fair deal, thumbs up.” – GGBG
- Nephalis also says: “I paid more than necessary because:
- PoE is among my most played games. Thus, GGG already deserves a trust bonus.
- They even allow me to bring the skins I bought in PoE1 with me.
- I also get a lot for my money. Because basically, I am only paying the price I would have paid for shop currency in the same amount, which is even included in the pack + all the cosmetics that come with the package + the access … it is therefore a really good deal compared to anything that Blizzard has ever sold digitally …
- I wanted parts of the cosmetics, and since I won’t have to or be able to buy the game later, I just have my “collector’s edition” that I might actually really have bought with PoE2.”
Our live ticker will accompany you all day today and equip you with the most important information. If you’d like to check back in occasionally to check the status, feel free to bookmark the article so you can return. You can find more about Path of Exile 2 here: Path of Exile 2 will punish you again for every character death, but not right from the start
