Path of Exile 2 will officially launch on December 11th, Grinding Gear Games announced during Gamescom Opening Night Live. The highly anticipated action RPG will be free-to-play at launch, dropping the requirement for a paid Founder's Pack that is currently necessary to access its early access period.
The 1.0 release will also introduce the Duelist, a new melee-focused class. This character is described as the game's first sword-wielding class and is designed for aggressive combat, with the ability to utilize shields. The launch will complete the game's campaign by adding the two remaining acts.
Grinding Gear Games is currently running a pre-launch registration campaign on the official Path of Exile website. Player sign-ups can unlock community-wide rewards, including a cosmetic pet. The full release comes nearly two years after Path of Exile 2's initial early access debut, which included PlayStation and Xbox versions and saw significant player numbers on its first day.
Earlier this year, the developer indicated a target launch window for sometime after November's ExileCon convention. The early access period has been met with positive reception, with Eurogamer praising its challenging, Souls-like combat that rewards player perseverance and distinguishes it from other action RPGs.