Action RPG · Early Access · PC & Console

Wraeclast Got Its Biggest Update — and the Numbers Back It Up

Path of Exile 2, Grinding Gear Games’ action RPG sequel currently in early access, received its fourth major content update on May 29, 2026. Patch 0.5.0, titled Return of the Ancients, introduced the Runes of Aldur challenge league — the game’s first formal challenge league — along with a fully rebuilt endgame Atlas system, five new endgame storylines, two new Ascendancy classes, and over 100 new runes. The update also ran alongside a free weekend on Steam, which contributed to a peak of 421,596 concurrent Steam players — the highest since the early access launch in December 2024. For more on the gaming landscape this season, see our coverage of Gothic 1 Remake’s June 2026 release and the latest on God of War: Laufey.

421K Peak Steam Players (0.5.0 weekend)
578K All-Time Peak (Dec 2024 Launch)
300+ New Atlas Passive Tree Nodes
100+ New Runes Added in 0.5.0
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Early Access Patch History

Path of Exile 2 entered early access in December 2024. Each patch brings a new league and major content overhaul. Tap any entry to expand details.

0.2.0 Dawn of the Hunt
The first major post-launch content patch. Introduced the Huntress class and new content to the endgame, along with broad balance overhauls. Marked the first economic reset since early access launch.
0.3.0 The Third Edict
Second major seasonal update. Continued expanding endgame systems and introduced further Ascendancy options and league mechanics that would later become permanent additions to the core game.
0.4.0 The Last of the Druids
The third major update introduced the Temple league mechanic. A player-discovered “Spymaster Snake” layout kept high-value rooms from being destroyed, generating hundreds of Divine Orbs per run — far beyond intended rates. GGG responded with Hotfix XIII, introducing diminishing returns on Temple room modifiers. Early testing showed runs dropping from hundreds of Divine Orbs to roughly 20 per attempt.
0.5.0 Return of the Ancients Live
Launched May 29, 2026. GGG’s self-described “biggest update ever.” Introduces Runes of Aldur — the game’s first formal challenge league — plus five new endgame storylines, a fully rebuilt Atlas Passive Tree (300+ nodes), two new Ascendancies (Spiritwalker for Huntress, Martial Artist), and the Fortress endgame mechanic. Hit 421,596 concurrent Steam players on day 3 during a free weekend.
0.5.1 Minor Patch Latest
Released shortly after 0.5.0. Adds 24 new Atlas Passive Skills to the top section of the Atlas Passive Tree, a new Lineage Support Gem, and new Elemental Passive Skills. Also includes bug fixes — notably for the Martial Artist movement exploit that bypassed Hollow Form’s movement penalty, and issues with Cities Atlas Passive Skills applying multiple times.
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What’s in Return of the Ancients

Explore each major system added in patch 0.5.0. Select a tab below.

A New Kind of Endgame

After clearing the campaign, players are handed a sprawling world map with dozens of locations to explore on the way to investigating a mysterious tower. Once a tower is completed, a Fortress rises from the ground — an ancient structure you’re sent to search for anything that can help save Wraeclast from an apocalyptic end.

The Atlas Passive Tree has been expanded to over 300 nodes. Maps inside the Fortress grant Atlas Passive Skill Points, which entirely replaces the previous method. After clearing all Fortress maps, players earn enough points to fully allocate the Atlas Tree. Game director Jonathan Rogers described this as giving players “a taste of the infinite farm version of the endgame with a clear stopping point before it fully opens up.”

Five Endgame Storylines
Each storyline introduces a league mechanic through a dedicated questline with its own boss fight. New players encounter them organically; returning players can clear favourites and skip others.
The Fortress
On completing your first tower, an ancient Fortress rises from the earth. Maps inside grant Atlas Passive Skill Points. Completing all Fortress maps fully allocates the Atlas Tree.
Masters of the Atlas
New NPCs that apply special modifiers to maps, enhancing bosses or specific content. Freely switchable per zone before opening in the map device.
Revamped Breach
The Breach league mechanic has been overhauled with Unstable Breaches and a visible time bar tracking how much time remains in each encounter.
Runes of Aldur — The First Challenge League

The Runes of Aldur league is the first formal challenge league in Path of Exile 2’s history. It offers a fresh economy start. In each area, players find a Remnant that enables crafting by using Runic Recipes engraved into the Remnant’s slots — depending on the Runeshapes used.

The league storyline follows Farrow, a seeker of runes, in rediscovering the forgotten bond between Ezomyte tradition and Kalguuran runesmithing. Completing Farrow’s quest in Act 4 unlocks 13 Ancient Runes with powerful bonuses specific to each weapon type. The challenge league includes eight tasks that unlock a full Microtransaction Armour Set upon completion.

13 Ancient Runes
Unlocked after completing Farrow’s Act 4 quest. Each carries powerful bonuses tied to specific weapon types.
13 Mythical Early Runes
Crafted from Remnant encounters. Provide strong boosts for level 15+ characters.
60+ Unique-Derived Runes
Created by destroying a unique item to produce a rune that inherits some of the unique’s properties.
3 Flux Runes
Crafted from Remnants. Transform resistances on items from one element to another.
Two New Ascendancy Classes

Return of the Ancients adds two new Ascendancy classes. Both come with dedicated questlines and mechanics that expand what character builds can do in Path of Exile 2.

Spiritwalker (Huntress)
Stalks through dark forests with animal companions. Players in the endgame have found that unique map bosses keep their map modifiers when tamed as Spiritwalker companions — GGG confirmed this is intended behaviour.
Martial Artist
Introduces a new combat style. Note: patch 0.5.1 fixed a Martial Artist exploit that bypassed the movement penalty of Hollow Form, and nerfed overall Slam damage by 50%.

For more on the expanding action RPG landscape this season, read our coverage of Rayman Legends: Retold and Fallout 4’s latest patch.

Patch 0.5.1 — What Changed

Released shortly after 0.5.0, patch 0.5.1 adds to the Atlas and fixes several issues that emerged at launch. Players who completed Fortress areas, Gateways, Enigma Chambers, and Halls before 0.5.1 are automatically granted the additional Passive Skill Points upon logging in.

+24 Atlas Passive Skills New Lineage Support Gem New Elemental Passive Skills Martial Artist Slam –50% Dmg Hollow Form Exploit Removed Cities Atlas Skills Fixed Simulacrum Completion Fixed Delirium Fog Maps Fixed Second Wind Support Fixed Olroth’s Resolve Rebalanced

The 24 new Atlas Passive Skills are added to the top section of the tree, particularly affecting individual biomes. Fortress Towers, Gateways, Enigma Chambers, and Halls now award more Atlas Passive Skill Points as part of this addition.

The Temple Problem — and the Hotfix

The temple farming issue emerged during patch 0.4.0 (The Last of the Druids). A specific temple layout — popularised by streamer Milkybk_ as the “Spymaster Snake” — chained rooms in a single long sequence that prevented the most valuable rooms from being destroyed by the normal destabilisation mechanic.

“Unfortunately we are going to need to reduce some of the juicing that is possible with the Temple fairly substantially.” — Grinding Gear Games, via X

GGG responded with Hotfix XIII, which introduced diminishing returns on Temple room modifiers. Runs that had been generating hundreds of Divine Orbs dropped to around 20 per attempt. With patch 0.5.0, Divine Orbs are now described in the patch notes as “more common,” and the snaking strategy received a targeted nerf as the Temple mechanic transitioned to the core game.

How the temple economy looked across patches:

0.4.0 (Pre-Hotfix)
Very High
0.4.0 (Post-Hotfix)
~20/run
0.5.0 (Runes of Aldur)
Rebalanced

Bar widths are illustrative relative comparisons, not official GGG data. Based on community-reported drop rates and patch notes.

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Where Wraeclast Stands Now

Path of Exile 2‘s Return of the Ancients update — patch 0.5.0 — was covered above, including the redesigned Atlas endgame, the Runes of Aldur challenge league, two new Ascendancy classes, the Fortress mechanic, and the patch 0.5.1 follow-up with 24 additional Atlas Passive Skills and targeted bug fixes. The temple economy issue from 0.4.0 and GGG’s hotfix response were also outlined. The game remains in early access, with a 1.0 release expected post-ExileCon 2026, which GGG has confirmed will bring Acts 5 and 6.

For more gaming news, see our coverage of Warzone’s PS4 and Xbox One shutdown dates and upcoming releases like God of War: Laufey.