Path of Exile 2’s 0.5.0 update, Return of the Ancients, launched on May 29, 2026, at 1 PM PDT. It introduced the Runes of Aldur league and a new endgame, including an Atlas reset. The date is historical, not a future release window; the official sources reviewed do not establish a newer update announcement as of October 8, 2026.
When did the new Path of Exile 2 update come out?
Grinding Gear Games’ official Return of the Ancients FAQ, published May 10, 2026, lists the launch as May 29 at 1 PM PDT. The update was available through the standalone PC client, Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5. That launch date has passed.
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Path of Exile 2: Unofficial Game Guide – 2026 Updated Edition Complete Walkthrough, Beginner... | $16.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Before the FAQ, GGG’s February 18, 2026 0.5.0 timeline post said the company planned to announce full plans toward the end of April, including endgame changes and a new league. The timeline post did not provide the full feature list or launch date.
What does Return of the Ancients add?
Runes of Aldur league
Runes of Aldur offers a fresh economy, league-exclusive mechanics and content, rewards, and bosses. To play in the league, create a new character. Existing characters remain available in Standard Early Access, but they do not enter the league with its fresh economy and exclusive content.
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The FAQ says the Standard Atlas, its progress, and the Atlas Passive Tree reset as part of the new endgame. Returning players should therefore expect to rebuild Atlas progress rather than resume their previous Atlas state.
Temple of Atziri joins the core game
The Temple of Atziri and its mechanics become part of the core game with Return of the Ancients, extending their availability beyond the new league.
Do you need to pay for the update or start over?
GGG said existing players only needed to download the content update; Return of the Ancients was not a paid expansion. Starting a new character is necessary to participate in Runes of Aldur, but not to keep playing existing characters in Standard Early Access.
| Play choice | Character and economy | Content and progression |
|---|---|---|
| Runes of Aldur | New character; fresh economy | League-exclusive mechanics, content, rewards, and bosses |
| Standard Early Access | Existing characters remain available | Standard Atlas progress and Atlas Passive Tree reset for the new endgame; Temple of Atziri becomes core content |
How does this fit Path of Exile 2’s update schedule?
In a July 11, 2025 content update timeline explainer, GGG described major Path of Exile 2 updates as arriving every four months at that time. It said those updates included a league with a fresh economy and exclusive content; after a league ends, GGG evaluates which features may move into the base game. This was a dated description, not a guarantee of a continuing fixed schedule.
For context, the August 20, 2025 0.3.0 patch notes covered Act Four, interludes, the Rise of the Abyssals league, and character-balance and support-gem changes. Those were features of that earlier update, not a description of 0.5.0.
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