The new Path of Exile 2 can already be downloaded earlier on PS5 and Xbox. However, those who purchased PoE2 on Steam cannot do so yet. A trick allows you to download the game in advance on PC.
When does the preload start? If you want to download Path of Exile 2 to start playing directly on Friday evening at the launch of Early Access, you can do so soon. The times vary by platform:
- PC: The preload for Path of Exile 2 on PC starts on Friday, December 6 at 02:00 AM German time.
- Xbox: For Xbox players, this starts earlier, as the game can already be downloaded now.
- PS5: Those playing Path of Exile 2 on PS5 can download the game immediately as soon as the supporter packs are available in the store. This is expected to happen on Thursday, December 5 at 08:00 PM German time.
- Steam: No preload has been announced for Steam yet, but with a trick, everyone who purchased the game on Steam or Epic Games can still download it in advance.
You can now watch the cinematic intro of Path of Exile 2 here:
This trick also works for buyers on Steam
What is this trick? Those who purchased Path of Exile 2 on Steam or Epic Games currently have no option to download the game in advance. The developers of PoE2 state:
We are still checking whether we can offer the pre-downloads for other platforms and will update this post as soon as they are available.
The developers in a blog post on the official website
However, if you still want to download Path of Exile 2 in advance, you can do so as a buyer of a version on Steam or Epic Games. The developers of PoE2 provide all players with a dedicated launcher for the game through their website. This is primarily intended for players who purchased their supporter packs through the game’s website.
But even as a buyer of a supporter pack on Steam or Epic Games, you can use this launcher:
- Simply create an account on the Path of Exile 2 website.
- Click on My Account and then on Manage Account on the right side.
- There you can link your Steam account and your Epic Games account.
- Once the launcher is available, you can simply download it and log in with the credentials from the website.
- The game will then be installed on your PC, and you can start playing right away at launch.
Can you switch back later? Yes, once the game is available on Steam or Epic Games, you can install it anytime through your chosen platform and continue playing with your characters.
Since your accounts are linked, your progress is automatically transferred, and you don’t lose anything. However, switching is not mandatory. You can also continue to play the game through the developers’ launcher. Are you already looking forward to Path of Exile 2? Let us know in our survey: In a few days, Path of Exile 2 will start in Early Access – We want to know if you’ll be there
