Grinding Gear Games has confirmed that Path of Exile 2's next major update, version 0.4.0, will launch in early December as planned. The announcement comes as the current Rise of the Abyssal League enters its third month, following the developer's commitment to four-month update cycles throughout early access.
The studio will reveal the livestream and release dates soon. Players should watch official channels for the announcement.
League Ending and Character Migration
Rise of the Abyssal League ends in a few weeks. All characters and items will migrate to Standard or Hardcore Early Access leagues when it concludes.
No character wipes will occur. Players can continue using their existing characters after migration completes.
Druid Class Expected in 0.4.0
The Druid class is widely anticipated to arrive with this update. GGG originally planned the class for 0.3.0 but delayed it due to development issues.
Game director Jonathan Rogers explained in a previous interview that the Druid had been stuck in "animation system hell." When the team faced a choice between continuing to fix the Druid or ensuring other 0.3.0 content shipped on time, they chose to postpone the class.
Preview footage suggests the Druid has significant potential if GGG nails the execution. The class will introduce new skill gems usable across all classes, potentially reshaping the meta even for players who don't plan to play Druid.
New Weapons Coming with Druid
New classes in PoE2 typically bring new weapon types. The Warrior launched with Maces, while the Huntress introduced Spears and Bucklers.
The game's skill gem interface shows a weapon tag labeled "Primal" that hasn't been used yet. This tag likely corresponds with the Druid's primary equipment, though the specific weapon type remains unconfirmed. Some speculation points to Claws as a new category, distinct from Daggers that might belong to the future Shadow class. The Druid could also use casting implements like Wands.
New skill gems will create build opportunities across the entire roster. Blood Mage builds, for example, might find powerful synergies with Druid abilities that weren't possible before.
Endgame Overhaul Continues
The 0.4.0 update will likely focus heavily on endgame improvements. This continues work that began in patches 0.3.0 and 0.3.1.
Recent changes to the endgame included additional unique maps, an expanded Atlas passive tree, and removal of the mandatory Breach tower system. GGG also adjusted map juicing mechanics, reducing maximum potential rewards from heavily modified maps while increasing baseline loot from standard mapping.
These changes narrowed the gap between casual players and dedicated streamers who could maximize map modification systems. Community feedback was mixed. Some players welcomed the accessibility improvements, while others felt disappointed about reduced ceiling potential.
Tablet System Is Temporary
The current waystones tablet system for map activation isn't the final solution. Removing mandatory towers in 0.3.0 served as a quick fix for widespread player frustration, but more endgame revisions are coming.
Creative director Mark Roberts said in a recent interview that GGG hadn't initially planned to undertake a full endgame rework. This rework has become one reason Path of Exile 2 will remain in early access rather than achieving full release in 2025. The first phase shipped in patch 0.3.1, but substantial changes are still in development.
Mid-Tier Boss Content Gap
Game director Jonathan Rogers mentioned in a previous interview that additional mid-tier boss encounters exist but haven't been integrated yet. Rogers acknowledged that PoE2 currently has a "gulf" in mid-tier content between lower-tier bosses (tiers one through three) and pinnacle endgame encounters.
Update 0.4.0 may address this gap with additional Breach bosses that are complete but not implemented, new mid-tier encounters to smooth difficulty progression, and potentially new pinnacle content for high-end players.
Balance Changes and Meta Shifts
League updates traditionally include balance adjustments. The Deadeye ascendancy and Lightning Arrow skill are expected to receive attention in 0.4.0 based on their current dominance.
Balance changes require substantial development time and testing. The update will likely emphasize new content additions rather than sweeping rebalancing, particularly with a new class and its skill gems arriving simultaneously.
New Druid skills will inherently shake up the meta as players experiment with cross-class combinations. This organic evolution may reduce the need for aggressive balance intervention.
Second Full League Implementation
Update 0.4.0 marks the second full league in Path of Exile 2. Rise of the Abyssal League (0.3.0) was the first true league. The previous Dawn of the Hunt update (0.2.0) wasn't classified as a league, and 0.1.0 served mainly as an economy reset with gem additions and rebalancing.
Full league implementations include a unique league mechanic (like the Abyss encounters), new skill and support gems, balance modifications to existing systems, and potential additions to crafting and itemization.
Release Date Projections
GGG's historical release patterns suggest the update will arrive in the first half of December. Path of Exile leagues have never launched later than December 13th. The studio traditionally takes a holiday break during Christmas, and past behavior shows they prefer several days to a week of post-launch monitoring before their scheduled time off.
Rise of the Abyssal League ends "in a few weeks" from the November 10th announcement. That puts the league conclusion at early December. Developer reveal livestreams typically occur about one week before patch deployment.
A potential timeline: reveal stream in early December (possibly December 6th, the one-year anniversary of PoE2's early access launch), with the patch releasing in the second week, likely around December 13th.
Development Philosophy
GGG has committed to four-month major updates throughout early access. This approach prioritizes consistent content delivery over complete feature sets in individual patches, letting the studio maintain momentum while gathering player feedback.
The game currently has five playable classes with seven more planned for full release, totaling twelve. After the Druid's expected arrival in 0.4.0, four classes remain to be implemented.
Jonathan Rogers has said he'd be "beyond shocked" if Path of Exile 2 didn't achieve full release in 2026, though the extensive endgame rework and remaining class implementations suggest early access will continue for several more cycles.
Community Recovery
Player response has improved substantially after the controversial Dawn of the Hunt update, which implemented widespread nerfs that generated significant backlash. Rise of the Abyssal League and the 0.3.1 endgame overhaul received more positive reception, restoring confidence in the game's direction.
Adding Act 4 in 0.3.0 provided relief for players who'd been forced to repeat the first three acts multiple times during character progression. Community sentiment has shifted from worry about upcoming content to genuine excitement for 0.4.0.
Path of Exile 1 Development Continues
While PoE2 progresses through early access, GGG continues supporting the original Path of Exile with its own league cycle. The recently launched Keepers of the Flame expansion has been well-received, providing an alternative for players who prefer the original's faster-paced gameplay over the sequel's more deliberate combat.
Simultaneous support of both games shows GGG's commitment to serving different player preferences within the ARPG genre.
