Two separate games, one account
Path of Exile 2 does not replace the original. GGG announced in 2023 that PoE 2 would be a separate game, with each title running its own update cycle. Since 2025 the studio has kept to a rhythm: a new version of each game roughly every 4 months, alternating. In 2026 it looked like this:
3.28 Mirage (6.03) → PoE 2 0.5.0 (29.05) → 3.29 Curse of the Allflame (24.07) → PoE 2 0.5.5 (4.09) → 3.30 (13.11) → PoE 2 1.0 (11.12).
The games have different directors: Mark Roberts leads PoE 1, Jonathan Rogers leads PoE 2. Asked by Game8 (March 2026) how long the original would be developed, Roberts said: "No, it will go forever." He added that it will keep being developed as long as it is financially viable.
Both games share a Path of Exile account and the shop. The PoE 2 Steam page says it plainly: "Purchases are shared between the two games." Characters, leagues and items are separate.
Calendar for November and December 2026
| When | What | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| 6.11.2026 | ExileCon keynote (3.30 reveal) | 21:00 |
| 9.11.2026, 13:00 PST | end of league 3.29 Curse of the Allflame | 21:00 |
| 13.11.2026 | PoE 1 3.30 launch (name not revealed yet) | time not announced |
| 11.12.2026 | Path of Exile 2 1.0, the game goes free-to-play | time not announced |
What this means for you: there are only 4 days between leagues 3.29 and 3.30, and 28 days pass between the 3.30 launch and the PoE 2 1.0 release. If you start the fresh league in the original, you get a full month of play before the full version of the sequel arrives. After that, both games run in parallel. We collect the new league details in our 3.30 league article.
The key differences in one table
| Path of Exile 1 (3.29) | Path of Exile 2 (0.5.5) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | free-to-play since 2013 | early access via a pack from $30; free-to-play from 11.12.2026 |
| Campaign | 10 acts; experienced players finish them in 6–10 hours | 4 acts and 3 interludes; six acts in 1.0 according to GGG; a first playthrough takes about 20 hours or more according to players |
| Classes | 7 | 8 of the 12 announced (Duelist in 1.0) |
| Ascendancy classes | about 20 (see below) plus Bloodline Ascendancies since 3.27 | 22 |
| Gems | gems in item sockets, links up to 6 (6L); since 3.29 sockets are white and accept any gem | gems from Uncut Gems, supports go into the skill gem itself (up to 5) |
| Flasks | 5 | 2 (Life and Mana) plus up to 3 Charms |
| Passive tree | 1325 nodes according to GGG | about 1500 according to GGG, plus Dual Specialisation |
| Dodge | no dodge roll | dodge roll without a skill slot, hold it to sprint |
| Spirit | none | a separate resource for buffs and minions, 100 from campaign quests |
| Platforms | PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One | PC (Steam, Epic, standalone client), PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
| Couch co-op and crossplay | not confirmed | yes, on consoles |
| Minimum requirements | GTX 650 Ti, DirectX 11, 40 GB | GTX 960 3 GB, DirectX 12, 100 GB |
| Steam Deck | Playable | Verified |
| Languages | 9, no Polish or Turkish | the same 9 languages |
| Steam players, last 30 days | average 5,442, peak 10,282 | average 29,249, peak 65,708 |
| Steam reviews (all languages) | 89% positive out of 250,078 ("Very Positive") | 75% positive out of 227,331 ("Mostly Positive") |
Player and review numbers: SteamCharts and Steam, as of 16.10.2026. At league peaks the gap is smaller: PoE 1 had 187,116 concurrent Steam players at the 3.29 launch (July 2026), PoE 2 had 420,409 at 0.5.0 (May 2026). Steam shows only part of the player base, because PoE 2 also runs on Epic, its own client and consoles.
Ascendancy classes in PoE 1: the GGG page says there are 20 Ascendancy classes but lists 21. The Scion got a second one, the Reliquarian (it changes every league), in 3.28, and the Luminary in 3.29. On top of that come Bloodline Ascendancies from endgame bosses, whose number changes between leagues. We give the PoE 2 passive tree node count as stated by GGG; community tools count it differently.
Choose PoE 1 if…
- You like a fast pace. Players describe the original as clearly faster, and mapping in it as "exponentially better" (r/pathofexile, October 2025). Experienced players finish the campaign in 6–10 hours.
- You want as many mechanics as possible. The Atlas of Worlds, deep crafting (Crafting Bench, Harvest), Ruthless mode, plus 7 classes with Ascendancies and Bloodline Ascendancies.
- You have a weaker PC or a Mac. PoE 1 runs on a GTX 650 Ti with 40 GB of space, and Steam lists macOS requirements.
- You play on PS4 or Xbox One. PoE 2 is not available on the older consoles.
- You want to jump into a new league right away. 3.30 launches on November 13, 2026.
The downside: with this many systems, a new player in practice plays with a build guide. Since 3.27 the original also has asynchronous trade carried over from PoE 2.
Choose PoE 2 if…
- You are starting from scratch. Players say the campaign is easier for newcomers, and separating gems from gear removes the "better item or good sockets" dilemma.
- You enjoy boss fights and dodging. According to GGG every campaign area has a boss, and the dodge roll is built into every character.
- You play on PS5 or Xbox Series with someone on the couch. PoE 2 has couch co-op, crossplay and cross-progression.
- You want a bigger crowd. On Steam, PoE 2 currently has several times more players than PoE 1.
Keep in mind that until December 11, 2026 the sequel is in early access and requires a pack. Version 1.0 adds the Duelist with swords, Acts V and VI, and a big balance patch that GGG moved from 0.5.5. Builds from October may therefore go out of date.
Can you play both
Yes. The two games' leagues alternate, so you can play them one after another on a single Path of Exile account. Points from packs can be spent in both games, and stash tabs bought in PoE 1 work in PoE 2 where relevant. Tabs for mechanics that do not exist in the sequel do not carry over.
You cannot transfer characters: each game has its own leagues and its own Standard, so you start a new character in each.
What players say
- "poe1 is fast, poe2 is slow", while the sequel "looks better" and has a higher player base (r/pathofexile, March 2026).
- "PoE2 solved this problem, making the campaign progression much easier for new players" (r/pathofexile, June 2026).
- "PoE1 has way more content, depth, build diversity" (r/PathOfExile2, a player since the Synthesis league, July 2026).
- "PoE2 has come a long way with the endgame but it still feels anemic" (r/ARPG, July 2026).
A simple pattern comes out of these opinions: newcomers and fans of boss fights more often pick PoE 2, while veterans who like fast mapping and crafting stay with PoE 1. Nothing stops you from trying both: the original is free right now, the sequel from December 11, 2026.
