Path of Exile 2: Early Access release date, countdown, preloads, platforms, and everything you need to know

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Path of Exile 2 has piqued my interest immensely. Having played countless RPGs and hack-and-slash games, I can confidently say that this sequel seems to be a promising addition to the genre.


Preparing for excitement? Here’s one way to rephrase it: The hotly-awaited sequel to Path of Exile is nearly here! Don’t worry about the wait any longer, as this intense RPG will soon be available in Early Access. To help you get ready for the journey ahead, I’ve gathered all the essential details such as the storyline, global release times, a countdown timer, and instructions on how to preload the game for PC or Xbox platforms. Enjoy the adventure!

Without further ado, let’s dive in and see what this dark game has in store.

What is Path of Exile 2?

  • Genre: This is an RPG, dungeon-crawling, hack and slash game.
  • Plot: Set 20 years after the events of the first game, Path of Exile 2 has players taking on the role of an exile who is on a quest to stop the corruption from spreading throughout the land of Wraeclast. It apparently features seven acts.
  • Gameplay: Path of Exile 2 shares a lot in common with Diablo IV, with the HUD even looking relatively similar. Both games utilize a top-down view and display health and magic in orbs at the bottom of the screen. In Path of Exile 2, you’ll spend time traveling around the corrupted land of Wraeclast, diving into dungeons while hacking and slashing your way through enemies.
  • Difficulty: Those who got to preview the game before Early Access have said that it is very difficult. So, if you’re up for a challenge, Path of Exile 2 is perfect for you.

Path of Exile 2: Release date and launch times

Path of Exile 2 begins its Early Access phase on Friday, the 6th of December, 2024. The specific hour of release may vary based on your location.

Does Path of Exile 2 have Early Access?

Absolutely! The follow-up is set to debut on Friday, December 6, 2024, in an Early Access phase. At this point, we don’t have a definitive duration for the Early Access period, but it’s anticipated to last anywhere from six months to a full year before its complete release.

Path of Exile 2: Countdown clock

The timer for Path of Exile 2’s Early Access release indicates the remaining duration before it goes live. However, please note that the specific date and time may vary depending on your location.

https://free.timeanddate.com/countdown/i9nuqb46/cf11/cm0/cu4/ct0/cs0/ca0/cr0/ss0/cac000/cpc000/pc0ff/tcfff/fs100/szw320/szh135/tatPath%20of%20Exile%202%20Early%20Access/tac000/tptTime%20since%20Event%20started%20in/tpc000/matCountdown/mac000/mpc000/iso2024-12-06T19:00:00

Path of Exile 2: How to preload the game

The team behind Path of Exile 2 recognizes that a vast number of gamers are eagerly anticipating this sequel. In light of this excitement, the developers have been strategizing for pre-downloads. Currently, Xbox players can pre-download the game, and Grinding Gears Games hints that there may be updates upon launch.

For PC gamers, the official X account has announced that a separate PC application, or standalone client, will be accessible for download at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, December 5, 2024. This application can only be obtained from the official Path of Exile website. Notably, Grinding Gear Games is planning to offer a torrent for the client download simultaneously as well.

On the official Path of Exile forum, it is clarified that players won’t have the chance to log in beforehand; instead, they can only do so at the exact time of the Early Access launch in their respective time zones.

Can I predownload Path of Exile 2 for PC and Xbox?

Indeed, there are pre-download options now for Xbox gamers. As for PC users, a dedicated client for pre-downloading the game will be made available on the Path of Exile website on December 5, at 5:00 p.m. PT. However, they won’t be able to log in until the official launch time.

Path of Exile 2: Platforms and gaming handhelds

path of exile 2 beta access will soon be available on personal computers via Steam and Epic Games Store, as well as on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 consoles.

At this point, it’s uncertain how smoothly the game will run on portable gaming systems such as the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and Legion Go. On its official Steam page, the compatibility status for Path of Exile 2 with Steam Deck is marked as “Unknown”. Yet, during a collective interview, a representative from Grinding Gear Games did mention that the game should be playable on the Steam Deck (credit to RPG Site).

Given that the PC system requirements for Path of Exile 2 aren’t particularly demanding, it appears quite plausible that the game will perform smoothly on ROG Ally and Legion Go. This is because, not only does the game support Xbox Controllers, but also PlayStation controllers. Therefore, it can be expected that the button layouts on these handheld devices would be well-designed for this game as well.

Path of Exile 2: Download size

As stated on the official Steam and Xbox pages for Path of Exile 2, players need approximately 100GB or 96.57GB of storage space respectively to run the game. Compared to other games released this year, this isn’t exceptionally large, but it does require a fair amount of storage.

Before we’re ready to release the new game, it would be wise to verify your system and organize your game files to create space for this upcoming release.

Path of Exile 2 is set to enter Early Access on December 6 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and Windows PC, promising to be among the top games this year on both Xbox and PC platforms. Notably, it’s a free-to-play game, but players have the option to buy supporter packs if they wish.

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2024-12-04 02:09