Path of Exile 2 is in early access, with the final major content cycle before version 1.0 underway. A free weekend and update 0.5.0 'Return of the Ancients' drew 410,000 concurrent players on Steam, and a hidden mechanic granting a permanent league-wide skill point was recently discovered.
Path of Exile 2 remains in early access as of mid-2026, with Grinding Gear Games planning a full version 1.0 release later in the year. The final major early access content cycle, update 0.5.0 'Return of the Ancients,' launched alongside a free weekend on PC and Xbox Series X|S that ran until June 2. The update refreshed endgame content and added new Ascendancies. SteamDB recorded a peak of about 410,000 concurrent players within 24 hours of the free weekend, the highest for any update so far but below the launch peak of around 580,000.
In June 2026, a player discovered a hidden device that sacrifices a level 100 character to grant the title 'Martyr of the First Edict' and gives all players in the same league a permanent skill point. The find, shared by streamer cArn_, has been replicated in the current season league, sparking discussion about the game's secret systems. The discovery adds a new layer of community-driven progression to the endgame, though Grinding Gear Games has not commented on whether the mechanic was intended or will remain in the full release.
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A Path of Exile 2 player discovered a hidden device that sacrifices a level 100 character to grant the title 'Martyr of the First Edict' and gives all players in the same league a permanent skill point. The find, shared by streamer cArn_, has already been replicated in the current season league, sparking discussion about the game's secret systems.
Grinding Gear Games launched a free weekend for Path of Exile 2 on PC and Xbox Series X|S, running until June 2. The event coincides with update 0.5.0, 'Return of the Ancients,' the last major early access league before the planned full version 1.0 release later in 2026. The update refreshed endgame content and added new Ascendancies. SteamDB recorded a peak of about 410,000 concurrent players within 24 hours, the highest for any update so far, though below the launch peak of around 580,000.