Grinding Gear Games is opening the doors wide for Path of Exile 2’s biggest update yet. From May 29 at 1PM PDT until June 1, anyone can jump into the Return of the Ancients expansion completely free on PC, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Epic Games Store. This free weekend gives new and returning players full access to everything currently available in early access, including all the major changes that arrived with patch 0.5.
The highlight of the update is the completely reshaped endgame. Instead of the old waystone grind with no clear stopping point, players now follow five narrative-driven storylines that guide them through meaningful content and lead to satisfying conclusions. Each storyline brings back popular mechanics from previous leagues and adds its own unique crafting system. The new Runes of Aldur league introduces a fresh runesmithing crafting system that lets players customize gear in powerful new ways.
Two brand-new ascendancy classes debut in this patch and are already generating a lot of excitement. The Martial Artist offers aggressive unarmed combat with high mobility and strong scaling once you unlock the right runes and supports. The Spirit Walker focuses on projectile and evasion playstyles, adding even more build variety right from the start of the league. Both classes feel fresh and rewarding to level, making them excellent choices for players starting fresh during the free weekend.
Beyond the new ascendancies, the patch delivers powerful new unique items, an expanded crafting system, a fully reimagined Atlas Tree, improved campaign replayability, a brand-new Build Planner tool, and a long list of quality-of-life improvements. These changes make the entire experience smoother and more approachable whether you are a first-time player or a veteran returning for the new league.
During the free weekend players can also earn several exclusive cosmetics by hitting early-game milestones in the Runes of Aldur league:
- Ezomyte Rune Scars Character Skin – Reach the Clearfell Encampment
- Candlemass Portal Effect – Defeat Count Geonor at the end of Act One
A special Discord Quest is also live from May 29 at 10AM PDT until June 5 at 5PM PDT. Simply play Path of Exile 2 for 15 minutes to earn the Runeseeker Avatar Decoration.
The Early Access Supporter Pack is on sale at 50% off from May 29 through June 12. The discounted pack includes full access to the game plus 150 store points to spend on cosmetics. Anyone who wants to keep playing after the free weekend ends can purchase the pack and continue right where they left off. All progress made during the free weekend is saved to your account permanently.
The free weekend is the perfect time to try out the new Martial Artist and Spirit Walker ascendancies, experiment with the runesmithing system, and experience the overhauled endgame for yourself. Whether you are completely new to Path of Exile 2 or coming back after a break, this is a risk-free opportunity to see why so many players are excited about patch 0.5.
If you have been waiting for the right moment to jump in, the free weekend starting May 29 is it. Download the game when the servers go live, create a character in the Runes of Aldur league, and see how the new storylines and ascendancies feel in action. The early-game cosmetics and Discord Quest rewards make it even more worthwhile.
Path of Exile 2’s Return of the Ancients is shaping up to be one of the most player-friendly major updates the game has received. With free access, new classes, a reimagined endgame, and plenty of quality-of-life improvements, there has never been a better time to give it a try. See you in Wraeclast this weekend.