Eight months into its early access phase, Path of Exile 2 is gearing up for its most substantial update to date, titled `The Third Edict.` Scheduled for release on August 29, this massive 0.3.0 patch introduces a wealth of new content, including Act IV, three temporary Interlude acts, and a new seasonal league. Beyond new content, the update also brings significant gameplay overhauls.
GameSpot recently gained insights into `The Third Edict` during a press Q&A session, which featured an exclusive interview with game director Jonathan Rogers. Rogers stated that this update aims to “solve every problem people are currently unhappy about.” Discussions also covered Grinding Gear Games` (GGG) rationale for integrating a league, their efforts to learn from the missteps of the poorly received `Dawn of the Hunt` update, and expectations for new classes and the full release.
Act IV and The Interludes
A central feature of `The Third Edict` is the introduction of Act IV. This new act transports players to the Polynesian-inspired Ngamakunui archipelago, an area teeming with new environments and formidable bosses. Comprising eight islands, Act IV offers a non-linear experience, allowing players the freedom to explore the islands in any sequence as they strive to quell the corruption spreading across Wraeclast.
Beyond Act IV, GGG is implementing a significant change to streamline the leveling process and enhance replayability. The “Cruel” difficulty, which previously required players to repeat Acts I-III, has been removed. In its place are three temporary “Interlude” acts. These concise, quest-driven segments provide an alternative and less repetitive method for players to reach endgame readiness, avoiding the grind of replaying familiar content.
The Interludes collectively introduce 19 new areas and nine new bosses. Interlude I revisits Ogham from Act I, where players will assist Renly. Interlude II takes players to the Vastiri desert to meet Asala, while Interlude III sees them joining Doryani to locate lost Vaal descendants.
It`s important to note that while elements from The Interludes, such as their unique bosses, will eventually be integrated into Path of Exile 2`s endgame, the Interlude acts themselves are temporary. They will be phased out upon the future release of Act V.
Sprinting Into The Future
A significant gameplay alteration arriving with `The Third Edict` is the introduction of a universal sprint mechanic for all characters. After performing a dodge roll, players can hold the dodge button to initiate a sprint, providing a substantial boost to movement speed. However, sustaining damage while sprinting will temporarily stun the character, making them vulnerable to enemy attacks. Activating any ability will automatically cancel the sprint.
Game director Jonathan Rogers initially expressed reservations about this change, fearing it might trivialize combat by allowing players to simply outrun encounters, potentially harming the game`s long-term design. However, he eventually recognized its value. For experienced players, sprinting will significantly accelerate campaign progression and endgame access, enhancing replayability. Conversely, less experienced players who attempt to sprint through every encounter risk missing out on crucial experience, leading to underleveled characters ill-equipped for later challenges.
Rogers commented, “I just came to terms with the fact that it`s okay for people who have played through many times to be able to get that kind of level of speed. The other thing it does do, of course, is it gives you the ability to retreat if you want to, which is good for new players as well if they`re getting overwhelmed.”
Entering The Abyss
Adding to the substantial content, `The Third Edict` will also mark the debut of Path of Exile 2`s first seasonal league, `Rise of the Abyssal,` a direct continuation of a popular league from the original Path of Exile.
Throughout the campaign and endgame of Path of Exile 2, players participating in the `Rise of the Abyssal` league will discover monstrous fissures. Vanquishing these creatures and sealing the fissures will yield new rewards, including unique affixes for items and, hinted at, even for characters themselves.
The decision to introduce a seasonal league while Path of Exile 2 remains in early access (with no immediate plans for full release) might seem unconventional. However, Jonathan Rogers emphasized the league`s critical role. He views it as essential for providing players with fresh experiences during the campaign and offering compelling reasons to continue playing.
Rogers explained, “If we didn`t do it, we could certainly get early access out faster. But I don`t think there`s a world where we could do that, because then I don`t think we would be successful, you know what I mean? We have to do it. None of that stuff gets thrown away at the end of the day…for the most part all that content gets folded in some way into the game again, either it be in endgame or maybe through the campaign a little bit. What you end up with is just effectively a larger endgame at the end, which I don`t think is a bad thing.”
Buffing Up Builds
`The Third Edict` also implements widespread buffs across various class skills and introduces a fundamental overhaul to the Support Gem system. Unlike the previous `Dawn of the Hunt` update, which frustrated the community with unpopular nerfs and a failure to address player concerns, this new update empowers players with expanded build options and strengthens underutilized skills.
A major change to Support Gems significantly enhances player agency. Previously, only one instance of each Support Gem could be slotted into a skill. Now, players can apply the same Support Gem to multiple skills, dramatically increasing build diversity and strategic possibilities.
Rogers acknowledged the potential complexity of this change: “Honestly it`s a bit scary because I think there will be a lot of fallout as far as stuff we need to look into, because it`s very hard to know what all the combinations are. But at the same time I think the existing system was a big blocker to all the different builds that people wanted to make, so I think that will be a big deal. Sometimes you get people going `Oh, there`s no builds to play,` and that kind of stuff. I really don`t like it when people feel that way. That`s what I`m most excited to fix.”
Additionally, a new category of powerful and exceptionally rare “Lineage Support” gems is being introduced. These gems, totaling 40 variants, can be acquired from specific boss encounters.
When questioned if these buffs, gem changes, and the sprint mechanic would accelerate Path of Exile 2`s combat pace—which has been praised for its deliberate, slower style—Rogers clarified that this was not the objective. “What we`re really trying to do there is lift the stuff that`s not working and not increase the stuff at the top end, especially through the campaign…what we`re trying to do really here is make sure that through the campaign you don`t get to the point where it becomes absurd too early,” he stated.
These comprehensive buffs are GGG`s direct response to player feedback that Rogers felt wasn`t adequately prioritized in the `Dawn of the Hunt` update. He emphasized that during `The Third Edict`s` development, community dissatisfaction points were clear, and the update directly addresses each one.
“I would say that we`ve got an answer to all of them; even if that answer isn`t correct yet, at least we have an answer to all the problems people have,” Rogers affirmed.
When Will Path Of Exile 2 Leave Early Access?
While `The Third Edict` marks Path of Exile 2`s second major update, a significant journey remains before its full free-to-play release. Jonathan Rogers previously hoped for a full release by the end of 2025, but this timeline has now been adjusted.
“I definitely don`t believe that`s possible anymore,” Rogers stated, attributing the delay to longer-than-anticipated development. He outlined two crucial prerequisites for exiting early access: completing the main campaign and achieving a state of game balance that satisfies the player base. “The general opinion needs to be that we`ve actually got it locked in,” he emphasized, adding that a full release is contingent on resolving these points.
Path of Exile 2 is also slated to receive five more classes. Rogers revealed that one new class was nearly included in `The Third Edict` but ultimately didn`t make the cut. “We still intended to get a class out for this one, we just didn`t quite finish it in time,” he explained, promising a new class in the subsequent update. He acknowledged the unpredictable nature of class development: “The classes unfortunately have a bit of unbounded amount of time. You can go into them thinking you know what they are and then by the time you`re actually done, you`ve refactored a bunch of things a bunch of times and it`s way harder than you expect.”
Simultaneously, GGG continues to develop new content for the original Path of Exile. Rogers admitted the studio initially struggled with balancing both games after Path of Exile 2`s launch, temporarily pausing an update for the first game. He noted that the team has since become more proficient at managing two live-service titles. This improvement stems from merging their development teams, allowing resources to be flexibly allocated as needed. Rogers described their alternating two-month update schedule for both games as “difficult but doable.”
“We`re kind of back in the groove, but it is hard,” Rogers admitted. “It is very hard to get everything organized.”
The aforementioned changes are merely a glimpse into the extensive `Third Edict` update. The endgame content will be bolstered by 25 new maps, populated with fresh monsters and boss encounters, including “uber” versions of Act IV bosses. Furthermore, the update introduces asynchronous trading, a first for Path of Exile 2, enabling players to buy items without the seller being online. If successful, this system will also be implemented in the original Path of Exile. For comprehensive details on all changes, including class buffs and item adjustments, players are encouraged to consult the official patch notes.
Path of Exile 2 is currently accessible on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. Early access requires purchasing a supporter pack, though the game will transition to free-to-play upon its full launch. To sample the game, players can enjoy a free period from August 29 to September 1, with all progress carrying over to the main game.