Path of Exile 2 will officially launch its 1.0 version on December 11, developer Grinding Gear Games announced. The action RPG will transition to a free-to-play model, mirroring its predecessor.
Accompanying the full release is the long-awaited introduction of swords as a weapon type, along with a new class designed around them. While the exact title of this new class was not revealed in the Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 trailer, forum posts from Grinding Gear Games refer to the character as the duelist. This class will feature new sword-specific skills, including an icicle-based attack that transforms enemies into ice cubes, a move previously seen used by a campaign boss.
The addition of swords is significant in Path of Exile 2, as weapon types are class-agnostic. This means that a new weapon category effectively unlocks a broad spectrum of new gameplay possibilities and skills for all players, regardless of their chosen class.
Grinding Gear Games also plans to release update 0.5.5 within the next month. This update will initiate a mini-league focused on refining the balance across all existing classes before the full launch. Further details regarding the 1.0 release and the upcoming mini-league are expected to be shared during a developer stream on Thursday.