Path of Exile is set to launch worldwide via its early access programme in about 2 days from the time of writing this article – across the PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. While the full, retail release is yet to receive a release date, players can still enjoy the early access beta to have a taste of its gameplay.
You can find more about the early access period detailed below.
When does Path of Exile 2’s early access begin?
The early access period begins on December 6, 2024 – at 7 PM UTC. You can find a list of release timings adjusted for multiple time zones below:
| Region/Time Zone | Adjusted early access release time |
|---|---|
| US (PST) | 11 AM; December 6 |
| US (MST) | 12 PM; December 6 |
| US (CT) | 1 PM; December 6 |
| US (ET) | 2 PM; December 6 |
| EU (GMT) | 7 PM; December 6 |
| EU (CEST) | 9 PM; December 7 |
| Asia (IST) | 12:30 AM; December 7 |
| Asia (CST) | 3 AM; December 7 |
| Asia (JST) | 4 AM; December 7 |
| Australia (AEST) | 5 AM; December 7 |
| New Zealand (NZST) | 6 AM; December 7 |
Is Path of Exile 2’s early access free to play?
Unfortunately, Path of Exile 2’s early access is not free to play. You will need to purchase a Supporter Pack for $30 in order to gain access to the title.
Thankfully, the packs do refund a set amount of premium currency (of the same $30 value) during the full retail release of the game – which should help offset the cost.
If you have already spent a minimum of $480 on the first Path of Exile’s various microtransactions, you will gain free access – but it is only valid for the PC version of the game.
How to preload the early access for Path of Exile 2
Developer and publisher Grinding Gear Games have thankfully confirmed that the game will indeed have a pre-load for its early access.
The preload will be available across all supported platforms (PC, Xbox Series X/S and the PlayStation 5). However, the preload is yet to go live as of the time of writing this article.
