Grinding Gear Games has given Path of Exile 2 players their latest look at the road towards the game’s full 1.0 release, with the studio using Gamescom Opening Night to showcase new content coming to the action RPG.
The reveal has been one of the most anticipated Path of Exile 2 announcements of the year, particularly following GGG’s teasing message to players: “Ready Your Blade!” The wording, combined with sword-themed artwork spotted at the Gamescom venue, had fans speculating that the long-awaited Duelist class and sword weapon type could finally be making their debut.
Path of Exile 2 has been in Early Access since December 2024, and while the game has already received several substantial updates, a number of the classes and weapon types planned for the full game have remained unavailable. The Duelist is among the most notable missing classes, particularly for veteran Path of Exile players who have been waiting to see how its traditional sword-focused playstyle would translate into the sequel.
The Gamescom reveal comes at an important point in Path of Exile 2‘s development. Grinding Gear Games previously described Return of the Ancients, released in May, as the final major Early Access content update before the game moves towards 1.0. That update introduced significant new endgame content, additional Ascendancies, and the Runes of Aldur challenge league.
While the Gamescom presentation provides a major glimpse at what is coming next, players will still have to wait a little longer for the complete 1.0 picture. Grinding Gear Games has targeted the full release for late 2026, with the developer previously indicating that 1.0 is expected a little after ExileCon, which takes place in Auckland on November 7 and 8. A specific launch date has not yet been officially confirmed.
The timing of today’s reveal also sets up another important date for Path of Exile 2 fans. GGG has announced a dedicated livestream for August 27, where it will provide more information about version 0.5.5. This should give players a better idea of how the newly revealed content fits into the remaining Early Access period and the eventual transition into 1.0.
For now, the Gamescom reveal represents another major step towards the version of Path of Exile 2 that Grinding Gear Games has been building towards since Early Access began. With 1.0 approaching and ExileCon still ahead, there is clearly plenty more to come before Wraeclast is finally ready for its full launch.
Path of Exile 2 is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, as an early access title, but not for much longer.
