Permanent loading screen - character bricked (XboxSX)

Signed into game after 0.2 update, respecced passive tree, then traveled through a preexisting portal from Ziggurat Camp in act 3 Cruel to Chimeral Wetlands. Loading screen for Chimeral Wetlands is permanently stuck. Screen isn't frozen because gears are spinning and tips continue to cycle. I have force closed game, unplugged Xbox, reset router and modem, etcetera a dozen times. Going on 12 hours of this behavior. I also tried letting it sit but after 15 minutes it's still spinning. Also cleared save data for POE2 in Xbox settings. This is on a Series X. My level 59 witch is bricked.

Same, loaded in to Chimeral and I'm on a permanant loading screen. Lvl 37 Tac Merc. I'm pissed...

I finally got back in. What worked for me was selecting my character and going to the stuck loading screen, then hit the Xbox button and launch another app (I used Amazon prime video), let it load, then hit the Xbox button again and go back to POE2. The game relaunches with the intro cinematic and when you get to the main initial screen it says you disconnected. Then go in and select the character and mine finally loaded.

I finally got back in. What worked for me was selecting my character and going to the stuck loading screen, then hit the Xbox button and launch another app (I used Amazon prime video), let it load, then hit the Xbox button again and go back to POE2. The game relaunches with the intro cinematic and when you get to the main initial screen it says you disconnected. Then go in and select the character and mine finally loaded.