Based on the official release of Path of Exile 3.28: Mirage on March 6, 2026, and Grinding Gear Games' (GGG) established pattern, here is a reasoned projection for the future schedule.
Path of Exile 3.29 Predicted Release Date
Likely Launch: Friday, July 3 or July 10, 2026.
Logic: Since the launch of PoE 2 Early Access in December 2024, GGG has moved toward an alternating 4-month development cycle for both games.
3.28 launched in early March 2026.
A standard 4-month cycle points directly to early July 2026 for the next PoE 1 expansion.
Leagues traditionally launch on Fridays, making July 3rd or 10th the prime candidates.
Path of Exile 3.28 End Date
Expected End: Late June or early July 2026.
Logic: PoE 1 leagues typically end 4–5 days before the next one begins to allow for the deployment of the new patch.
The "PoE 2" Impact Factor
While PoE 1 and PoE 2 are separate games, their schedules are now strategically linked:
Alternating Cycles: GGG aims to release a major update for one of the games roughly every 2 months. For instance, PoE 2 Patch 0.5 is officially confirmed for a May 2026 launch.
Staggered Launches: To prevent the two games from "eating" each other's player base, a PoE 1 league (like 3.29) will always launch approximately 2 months after a major PoE 2 milestone.
Potential for Delay: History shows that major PoE 2 milestones (like the transition to 1.0 or large endgame updates) can draw resources away from PoE 1, occasionally extending a league cycle beyond the usual 4 months.
