Grinding Gear Games’ isometric action role-playing game (ARPG) Path of Exile 2 is steadily preparing itself for what’s sure to be a massive 1.0 release, as the title will be receiving its final major content update, Return of the Ancients, on 29 May 2026, bringing now just a new League, quests, and two Ascendancy classes, but also completely overhauling almost all aspects of its endgame.
Headlining the update is the completely transformed endgame, with the Altas now turned into a fully explorable endgame world with branching paths and clear objectives in every direction. All previously released League content will now also be situated in their own distinct areas on the Altas map, making it less overwhelming for both returning players and newcomers.
It’s not just a layout change, however, as Path of Exile 2: Return of the Ancients also introduces a new area, a massive fortress and home to devastating precursor weapons. In order to disarm them, players will embark on a new endgame storyline that’s packed with deadly enemies to encounter, new map mechanics to overcome, and, of course, tons of sweet loot.
The endgame progression system, the Atlas passive tree, will also see a significant rework, as players can now unlock every node on the tree by completing the various maps within the fortress. Alongside the newly designed skill tree, a system known as Masters of the Atlas will also be introduced, offering Ascendancy-style progression for the endgame. Players can choose to align with three different masters, each offering unique, asymmetric bonuses that can be swapped on the fly, offering further flexibility to player builds.
With Path of Exile 2’s reworked endgame, almost every aspect of additions seen in past Leagues will see a revamp, alongside new dedicated storylines to follow for each. Delirium, for example, now sees the inclusion of a visible depth bar, new mirror shard encounters, and Distilled Emotions that can craft mods directly onto Jewels. Its new related storyline, The Hare and the Raven, will see players face off against Tangmazu, the Raven Trickster. Other changes include Breach, which now has a visible timer displayed that is extended with each kill, leading to tougher enemies and better loot if the Breach is kept open long enough, and Expedition, which now comprises a vast procedurally generated ocean filled with new islands and secrets to encounter.
Path of Exile 2 will also be receiving its next League, the Runes of Aldur, which introduces a system known as Ezomyte Runesmithing. During the campaign, players can encounter Farrow, a young blacksmith uncovering its ancient Kalguuran origins, who teaches players the ancient art. Following that, Ezomyte Remnants can be found throughout the world, locations where players can inscribe a combination of symbols to determine the rewards created, although activating a Remnant also summons undead with empowerments based on the runes used in the crafting process, meaning players need to be well-prepared in order to get the best loot.
Return of the Ancients also expands upon the game’s Huntress and Monk classes, with both receiving a new ascendancy. The Huntress is able to turn into a Spirit Walker, who can channel the spirits of a Stag, Owl, or Bear, each providing their own unique abilities such as summoning a stampede or a ferocious bear companion. Players can choose to specialise in one spirit, or unite all three for a unique bonus that enhances every aspect of their arsenal.
The Monk, on the other hand, can harness the power of the Martial Artist, a master of illusions that can summon echoes to maximise damage output, or manifest spectral bells that shatter enemies. This class also has access to runic tattoos, allowing additional runes to be socketed directly on their bodies, alongside the Way of the Stonefist, which can transform a player’s gloves into weapons of immense power.
Apart from reworks and new additions, Grinding Gear Games also remains committed to players’ quality of life. In order to make playing or replaying the campaign more intuitive, navigational landmarks and trails have been added, such as locust swarms or wooden signs placed in more open areas that can help guide players to the nearest town or point of interest to progress the story. Path of Exile 2 will also receive a native in-game Build Guide system, allowing community creators to publish build files that display passive trees, gem selections, item recommendations, and level-specific notes directly within the client.
Of course, with every new update, Path of Exile 2 will also be getting a barrage of powerful new gear, with Return of the Ancients adding over 30 new unique items spanning weapons, jewellery and armours, with examples including the Raven’s Flock staff, which summons a circling flock of ravens around the player that deal constant damage over time to those around them, or the Liminal Coil wand, which allows players to curse targets around them, then use Coiling Bolts to fire a projectile that splits and chains through every curse target on screen, unleashing devastating chaos across the battlefield.
Return of the Ancients will also mark the final major content update before the full 1.0 release of Path of Exile 2, although the studio will still release balance and polish updates leading up to launch. Path of Exile 2: Return of the Ancients will launch on 29 May 2026, with its 1.0 launch slated after ExileCon, happening on 7 and 8 November 2026. Players can check out the full list of what’s coming in Return of the Ancients via the game’s website.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
