Path of Exile 2

Return of the Ancients launched May 29 with the Runes of Aldur challenge league and a redesigned Atlas. At ExileCon in November, Grinding Gear Games announced the next set of major campaign and class additions.

• Atlas and endgame: Return of the Ancients expanded endgame storylines, encounters and bosses, with new maps, items and crafting systems to pursue.
• Runes of Aldur: The league added a new progression and reward loop alongside the expansion’s broader overhaul.
• ExileCon announcements: The developer revealed Acts 5 and 6, the Duelist and Shadow, and Conquerors of Wraeclast as upcoming content. It also announced plans for the full release.
• Event rewards: ExileCon’s Twitch Drops promotion offered themed cosmetic rewards for viewers.

Path of Exile 2’s Early Access launch delivered six classes, a three-act campaign, and an endgame built around 50 bosses and roughly 400 monster types. Dawn of the Hunt and The Third Edict were the year’s biggest later beats, though the tracked entries described their April 4 and August 29 dates as launch plans and announcements rather than independently confirmed deliveries.

• Early Access foundation: The December 6, 2024 launch introduced Monk, Ranger, Warrior, Mercenary, Witch, and Sorceress, alongside couch co-op and persistent Early Access characters. Access was tied to purchasable Early Access Supporter Packs.

• Dawn of the Hunt: The update was showcased with the Huntress, five new Ascendancy classes, new endgame encounters, and additional endgame content. A confirmed April follow-up allowed Ascendancy respecs at the Ascension device when no points were allocated.

• The Third Edict: The August 29 announcement previewed Act Four, the Interlude, the Rise of the Abyssal League, new bosses, a new combat mechanic, and asynchronous trade. Merchant’s Tabs were also described as the planned trading interface, with restrictions on currency, pricing, and SSF use.

• Endgame expansion: New tower maps arrived in January and February, including four additional Tower Maps, while the endgame gained more bosses and a tablet for adding bosses. Arbiter of Ash, King in the Mists, Breachstones, and Olroth received additional respawn opportunities.

• Loot and combat overhaul: The May 1 item-drop changes improved Tier 2–5 Rare drops, guaranteed Rare rewards from most Unique Bosses, strengthened Strongboxes, and increased Breach and Delirium splinter drops. June’s changes added and substantially boosted Mythic Uniques including Lioneye’s Glare, The Last Lament, The Whispering Ice, and Cadiro’s Gambit.