Last December, Path of Exile 2 released their 0.4 update – The Last of The Druids – and fans are eating well! Which, of course, brings back a conversation that’s worth having every time a big early access title gets a big update: “Is the game worth starting now?” That’s what this article seeks to discuss!
If you, like thousands of others, decide that now is a good time to jump in, consider getting PoE 2 currency from Playhub. There’s a lot of content to get through, and this would get rid of all the grinding so that you can focus only on the fun parts!
This Early Access Is Surprisingly Full-Featured
The developers of this game know exactly what the fans wanted. What made the previous entry so popular was how big and complex the mechanics were. So, when they released the PoE2 early access, it wasn’t a tiny taste of something that “could be.” It was a huge portion of what the fans wanted to see the most! A good chunk of the campaign, boss fight, skills, and a skill tree that made the previous one look small in comparison. The game already felt like a playground full of possibilities.
Right now? You’ve got three acts of the campaign to blaze through (and tons of hours to lose yourself in doing it). That’s roughly 25–30 hours of story content alone – and that’s before you hit the endgame, which is where Path of Exile 2 really starts feeling like a world you can’t put down.
More importantly, everything you do in early access stays with you when the game goes full release. Your characters, your items, your build experiments – all that progress carries forward. Besides, you get a minimum of 300 points, the premium Path of Exile 2 currency.
So yes, it is early access – but it’s structured in a way that rewards your early investment.
A Game That Already Feels Deep, Not Shallow
One thing that resonates with players across forums, YouTube impressions, and social chatter is how complete the experience feels, even before 1.0.
The combat? Punchy. The skill system? Ridiculously deep – with over 200 skill gems and hundreds of support options that let you sculpt totally unique playstyles.
The passive tree? Still iconic, still vast, and now with better ways to specialize into different roles within a single build.
And if that’s not enough, the game’s endgame – the mapping systems and Atlas passive tree – already hooks you like a final-boss soundtrack. You feel the progression. You feel the reward. That matters in a genre that often trades depth for polish.
Developers Actually Listening (And Adjusting)
It isn’t perfect. Early access, by definition, has rough edges – bugs get found, balance tweaks happen, and QoL items get added patch by patch. The difference here is that Grinding Gear Games (GGG) doesn’t just patch; they react to player feedback.
In the past year, early access has seen dozens of patches that adjust item systems, balance classes, and – importantly – grow the game around community input rather than against it.
This isn’t silent early access where the developer posts ghost patches every six months. It’s living development – frequent updates with real changes.
A Community That’s Grown Fast
Did you catch the launch numbers? Path of Exile reported that they passed the 1 million player count very quickly, which caused issues with the game’s servers on launch day. However, they fixed that quickly, and the playerbase remains at healthy numbers to this day.
That’s not small-time indie stuff. That’s a community breathing, grinding, theorycrafting together.
Part of what makes early access fun isn’t just the gameplay – it’s being there while it grows. Watching class reworks land, seeing balance tweaks roll out, and feeling the meta shift every season… that’s something you won’t get if you show up after the buzz.
Updates Are Constant – And Meaningful
Think early access means minor bug fixes and half-baked patches? Think again.
From brand new classes showing up in updates to expanded campaign content and new seasonal mechanics – PoE 2 is getting fed like a growth hormone. The cadence of updates is regular and substantial.
For example, late 2025 saw the “Last of the Druids” update with a new class launch, fresh league content, and deeper dungeon systems. That’s legit new content – not just balance tweaks.
This means early access doesn’t feel static. It feels alive.
It’s Still Early – Which Means Your Experience Won’t Be Static
Here’s the playful bit: early access is kind of like being in a club where the rules keep evolving, but you get VIP access.
As the year progresses, we’re still looking forward to additional campaign acts, more character classes, and expanded endgame systems. Early access isn’t a tease – it’s like having the door cracked open for you first.
And the pace of these additions matters. Every few weeks, there’s something to talk about, to test, to master.
When the full game finally lands – whether late 2026 or earlier – players who started in early access aren’t starting from a blank slate. They’re seasoned. They’ve seen evolutions. They’ve lived stories the later crowd may miss.
FAQs
Is Path of Exile 2 still in early access?
Yes. Path of Exile 2 entered paid early access in December 2024, with the full free-to-play release planned for a later date.
Does early access progress carry over?
Yes. Characters, every Path of Exile 2 currency, items, and overall progress will carry into the full release.
How much content is available right now?
Early access includes three campaign acts, multiple classes, a deep skill system, and an active endgame with mapping and Atlas progression.
Is early access worth it for new players?
It can be. Early access offers time to learn systems and experiment with builds as the game evolves, though the complexity may feel intense at first.
In Conclusion
If you’re trying to decide whether to dip your toes into Path of Exile 2 early access, stop thinking about it like a half-product. Think of it like a chapter of a story that’s already packed with tension, characters worth investing in, and mechanics that feel good under your fingers.
Most early-access games make you feel like you’re beta testing. PoE 2 makes you feel like you’re playing a full, exciting ARPG that’s only going to keep getting better – and you get to be there while it happens.
Go grab a class. Start a build. Explore the world. The early access world of Path of Exile 2 isn’t just a preview – it’s a living adventure worth your time.
