Six years into development, Path of Exile open beta release delayed until January
"Too dangerous to launch" over Christmas.
Free-to-play fantasy role-player Path of Exile has had its open beta release date delayed until next year, developer Grinding Gear Games has announced.
The game will finally launch into open beta on 23rd January 2013 - nearly a year and a half after the game's closed beta debuted in August 2011.
"A few months ago, we estimated that we would enter Open Beta in December 2012," read a statement on Grinding Gears' website explaining the delay.
"Although we believe that we can have the build ready by then, we've decided that it's too dangerous to launch the Open Beta over the Christmas period and Southern Hemisphere summer holidays when many of our staff will be away."
More community events will be held and beta keys given away in the meantime to make up for the wait.
"We understand that some community members may be disappointed with this news, and we're very sorry that we have to adjust the date one final time. You've been patiently waiting for the Open Beta for over a year, and we want to make sure it's just right. We strongly considered ignoring the dangers of a mid-December release, but in the end we decided that the extra safety would be worth the wait."
Path of Exile's development has now stretched to over six years.
