Grinding Gear Games has announced the launch of Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict, the game’s latest content expansion, arriving on August 29 across PC, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Epic Games Store. The update brings with it a brand-new campaign act, new side content, a massive gameplay overhaul, and the highly requested Asynchronous Trade system.
A new journey to the Karui archipelago
The centerpiece of The Third Edict is Act Four, which takes players to the Ngamakanui archipelago in search of a weapon powerful enough to slay the Beast. Act Four is also non-linear, allowing players to tackle eight distinct islands in any order. The new act introduces over 100 new monster types, 16 new areas, and 12 new bosses, each inspired by Karui culture.
Alongside Act Four, Cruel Difficulty has been replaced with three Interlude acts, designed to expand the post-campaign journey without forcing players to replay earlier acts. These Interludes add 19 new areas and 9 new bosses, fleshing out side stories and bridging the gap to endgame content.
- Interlude I: Return to Ogham to aid Renly in rebuilding the village. Purge the corruption plaguing the denizens.
- Interlude II: Cross Vastiri’s sands and help Asala fulfill a sacred vow, and seek out the ones responsible for disrupting the Gifting.
- Interlude III: Scale the great heights of the mountain to find the lost Vaal descendants. Venture into the caves of ice and unearth the secrets lying within the vault.
Rise of the Abyssal
The expansion also introduces Path of Exile 2’s first exclusive League, Rise of the Abyssal. Players must fend off fissures filled with monsters, then claim loot from Abyssal Troves. Delving deeper into the Abyssal Depths reveals new crafting mechanics, boss encounters, and even a new Pinnacle Boss for endgame players.
Major system overhauls
The Support Gem system has been completely reworked, removing the one-per-gem restriction and allowing for deeper build customization. Gems can now be leveled and upgraded throughout the campaign. On top of that, new Lineage Supports—40 rare gems obtained from specific bosses—offer powerful new ways to refine builds.
Other updates include:
Sprint, available to all classes for faster out-of-combat movement.
Asynchronous Trade, letting players buy items without requiring the seller to be online.
Balance changes across classes, ascendancies, and skills, plus updates to crafting with new high-tier currency like the Greater Orb of Transmutation.
Endgame additions
With Act Four and the Interludes come 25 new Endgame Maps, featuring unique mechanics, monsters, and bosses. Uber versions of key encounters await, alongside exclusive rewards such as Lineage Support Gems that reshape character progression.
Free weekend event
To celebrate the launch, Path of Exile 2 will hold a Free Weekend from August 29 (1 PM PDT) to September 1 (1 PM PDT). For the first time, players can try both new and existing content without an Early Access key.
Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict launches August 29. Access is included with any purchase of the Early Access Supporter Pack, starting at USD $30, which also unlocks exclusive cosmetic sets such as the Justice and Trarthan Executioner packs.