Short answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Will PoE 2 be free? | Yes, from December 11, 2026 (1.0 launch) |
| Is it free now? | No, until 11.12 you need an Early Access pack |
| Cheapest pack | $30 ($29.99 on Steam), with 300 points |
| Do purchased packs go to waste? | No, you keep playing, points and cosmetics stay |
| Will Early Access owners get something extra? | GGG has not announced it (as of 16.10.2026) |
| Is it "pay to win"? | GGG: never. The shop sells cosmetics and stash tabs |
| Do purchases from PoE 1 work? | Yes, purchases are shared between both games |
Early Access packs: prices and contents
Prices from GGG's site on October 16, 2026. Every pack gives access to the game before launch and points to spend in the shop (in packs, 10 points equal $1).
| Pack | Price | Points | Also includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Access Supporter Pack | $30 | 300 | Early Access key, soundtrack |
| Lord of Ogham | $60 | 600 | as above |
| King of the Faridun | $100 | 1000 | as above |
| Thaumaturge of the Vaal | $160 | 1600 | +1 key for a friend |
| Warlord of the Karui | $240 | 2400 | +2 keys |
| Liberator of Wraeclast | $480 | 4800 | +4 keys, art book, hoodie, T-shirt |
Steam and PS Store sell the three cheapest (Founder's Pack on PS Store: $29.99). A pack bought on Steam can be refunded within 14 days under Steam's usual rules.
Buying a pack now only makes sense if you want to play before December 11 or were going to spend money in the shop anyway. You can spend the points after launch too, in both games. If you just want to try the game, wait for December 11.
What players spend money on
The Path of Exile shop sells cosmetics (armour sets, weapon effects, portals, pets) and extra stash tabs. Stash tabs give no combat advantage, but they make organising and trading easier. GGG does not publish what sells best. A few facts about stash tabs:
- Stash tabs bought in Path of Exile 1 work in PoE 2 where relevant. The currency tab holds different items in PoE 2 than in PoE 1.
- In a new league your purchased stash tabs are empty. Old items stay in the Standard league.
- The Fragment Tab has been sold in the PoE 2 shop since version 0.5 (29.05.2026). If you own it from PoE 1, you have it in PoE 2 too.
- A stash tab bought on one platform works only in "remove only" mode on another (rule from the Early Access FAQ).
Fair-to-play: GGG's rules
The Steam description says: "Fair-To-Play. Never Pay-To-Win". GGG promises further expansions for both games, free and without buying power. Path of Exile 1 has used the same model since 2013.
Account and Path of Exile 1
PoE 2 is a separate game, but there is one account: you play with the same Path of Exile account as in PoE 1, and purchases and cosmetics are shared. In 2024 GGG noted that not all PoE 1 cosmetics work in PoE 2 right away. Some show as unavailable in the PoE 2 cosmetics tab.
What is still unknown
- Whether Early Access owners will get a reward when the game goes free-to-play.
- Whether the Early Access packs will disappear from the shop on December 11 and what will replace them.
- Whether PS5 will require PS Plus for online play after launch. Free-to-play games on PlayStation usually do not, but neither GGG nor Sony has confirmed it for PoE 2. On Xbox, the Microsoft Store says online play requires Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate.
We will fill this in after ExileCon (November 6–7) or when GGG publishes a full release FAQ. Everything about the launch: Path of Exile 2 1.0, date and time.
