Path of Exile 2 has been in early access for a while now, and Grinding Gear Games has been steadily building toward something big. On May 29, that something big arrives – and game director Jonathan Rogers is not underselling it. He called Return of the Ancients “the largest update we’ve ever done, and I mean to like Path of Exile 1 or 2.” That is a bold statement. The patch is earning it.
What Is Return of the Ancients?
Version 0.5.0 – officially titled Return of the Ancients – is the final major content update before Path of Exile 2’s full 1.0 release later this year. It is effectively GGG’s statement of intent: here is what the endgame of this game is going to look like, and it is enormous.
The headline numbers are staggering: over 50 hours of new endgame content, five new storylines, 15 new bosses (including four Pinnacle fights), two new Ascendancy classes, and a completely rebuilt Atlas with over 300 passive nodes. For context, that is more content than most full game expansions.
The New Ascendancy Classes
Two new Ascendancy classes are joining the roster: the Spirit Walker and the Martial Artist. These expand the build space considerably, and GGG has teased that both offer playstyles that have been heavily requested by the community since early access launched.
A Rebuilt Atlas and a New League
The Atlas – the endgame map system inherited from Path of Exile 1 but rebuilt for PoE2 – is getting a complete overhaul with its own new passive tree and Atlas Ascendancy classes. Alongside that, a new league called Runes of Aldur introduces runesmithing: a crafting system where players discover ancient Ezomyte rune techniques to engrave symbols onto their gear. There is also a new NPC, Farrow, whose storyline ties directly into the league mechanic.
An Actual Ending
Here is the detail that caught the most attention from players: for the first time in series history, Path of Exile 2 will have an actual ending. You can now complete the endgame and get a sense of resolution – something the series has never offered before, where the loop just continues indefinitely. Whether players actually want to stop is another question, but the option being there is a meaningful design choice that speaks to GGG’s vision for what PoE2 should be.
Return of the Ancients also includes over 40 new unique items, 30 new endgame areas, and a genesis tree crafting system. If you stepped away from Path of Exile 2 early access feeling like the endgame was not quite there yet, May 29 is the day to come back.
