407,000 Players. The Biggest Update In PoE2's History.
On May 29, 2026, Grinding Gear Games (GGG) released Path of Exile 2's largest Early Access update: 0.5.0 "Return of the Ancients."
The numbers tell the story: Steam peaked at 407,739 concurrent players on launch day — a new record for the game, and a strong signal that this ARPG's community is still growing. GGG describes this patch as both the game's "biggest update ever" and the final major content drop before Path of Exile 2's full 1.0 release.
A free-to-play weekend ran alongside launch, letting players try the game with no cost attached. Progress carries over if you later purchase the Starter Pack, which launched at 50% off ($14.99 USD).
Origins of Divinity: The Endgame Gets Rebuilt
The headline change in 0.5.0 is Origins of Divinity — a complete redesign of Path of Exile 2's endgame.
After completing your first Tower, a Fortress rises at the center of the Atlas. Maps inside it reward Atlas Passive Tree points, entirely replacing the old acquisition method. The Atlas Tree itself has been expanded dramatically.
| Change | Details |
|---|---|
| Atlas Passive Tree nodes | Expanded to 300+, fully allocatable |
| Atlas point acquisition | Replaced with Fortress map clears |
| New endgame map areas | 30 added |
| New endgame storylines | 6 new storylines |
| New Pinnacle Bosses | 4, including the Arbiter of Divinity |
| New Citadel maps | 2, each dropping keys for new Pinnacle Boss |
The Masters of the Atlas system introduces Ascendancy-style progression for the endgame. Three masters — Doryani, Hilda, and Jado — each offer unique asymmetric bonuses that can be swapped freely between maps, enabling new build-defining combinations.
Two New Ascendancy Classes
0.5.0 adds two brand-new Ascendancy classes that expand the game's build possibilities significantly.
Martial Artist (Monk Ascendancy)
After decades of training, the Martial Artist has mastered the art of illusion. Empowered by runes socketed into the body, this class creates powerful illusions, summons illusory bells as weapons, and specializes in unarmed combat. It rewards players who enjoy layered mechanics and precise positioning.
Spirit Walker (Huntress Ascendancy)
Bound to the wilds, the Spirit Walker aligns with the spirit of the Stag, Owl, or Bear, each granting different combat styles. The class can bind beasts in spirit form and call spectral companions to fight alongside. This is the most pet-centric Ascendancy added to PoE2 to date.
Because the Atlas Tree can now be fully allocated, there is no longer a need to respec it. Multi-choice nodes can be freely switched at any time, giving endgame builds far more flexibility than before.
Other Endgame System Overhauls
Return of the Ancients doesn't just add — it significantly rebuilds existing systems.
- ▶Delirium: New hub area, revamped Atlas tree, new Trial of Madness mechanic
- ▶Breach: New storyline, revamped tree, new Genesis Tree crafting system
- ▶Ritual: New continuous Atlas mechanic — Rite of the Nameless
- ▶Fate of the Vaal: Moved permanently into the core game with its own Atlas tree
The new Runes of Aldur league also launches alongside all of this, with league-specific mechanics and crafting systems that give the new season a distinct identity.
Launch Day: Hotfixes and Server Strain
With nearly 408,000 players hitting the servers simultaneously, launch day was predictably bumpy. GGG responded with a live blog and rapid hotfixes throughout the day.
Hotfix 1 — Fixed client deadlocks from build planner files, crashes on character switching and controller input.
Hotfix 2 — Fixed Chaosborn Druid Twister microtransaction crash; temporarily disabled the cosmetic on consoles pending a console-side fix.
Hotfix 3 — Resolved a bug where most damage modifiers weren't applying to Corrupted Blood from Corrupting Cry Support or Paquate's Pact Support. Fixed Warbringer's Ancestral Spirit minion AI, Remnant UI off-screen on couch co-op, and additional instance crashes.
Game validation issues were also reported early in the day, fully resolved by the evening.
The Chaosborn Druid Twister cosmetic remains temporarily disabled on console versions until GGG deploys the crash fix. PC players are unaffected.
Community Reaction: Cautiously Enthusiastic, Very Active
""Like clockwork, a liveblog of updates came online to chronicle how launch weekend went — patches, hotfixes, bugs like game validation issues, and a free-to-play promotion. There was also the typical player count spike on Steam, with over 400K players at the last 24-hour peak." — Massively Overpowered
""The endgame feels completely different. For the first time in PoE2 early access, I actually feel like I know what I'm building toward." — Reddit r/pathofexile2
""It's a Very Patch Launch, Charlie Brown. Discussion on Reddit is proving to be a bit of a mixed bag — build strategy, crash reports, and sweet loot drops." — Massively Overpowered
The official PTR forums and subreddit are both highly active with theory-crafting, build reports, and ongoing crash diagnosis threads. The consensus: overwhelmingly positive despite a rocky launch day.
The Road to 1.0 — Why This Matters
GGG has stated clearly that Return of the Ancients is the final planned content update before Path of Exile 2's full 1.0 release. What comes next is iteration based on feedback from this patch, balance tuning, and then the full launch.
For players on the fence about joining, this is arguably the best the game has ever been. The starter pack discount ($14.99) makes entry accessible, and the free weekend gave millions of people a chance to sample the new endgame before committing.
GamePeak will cover the 1.0 release announcement as soon as it's confirmed.