## What Path of Exile 2 Players Need to Know About the Early Access Endgame

Grinding Gear Games has confirmed that Return of the Ancients, Path of Exile 2's patch 0.5.0, is the final full-scale update before the game officially exits Early Access and launches as version 1.0, as reported by VPEsports. At that 1.0 launch, the game goes free-to-play and the missing campaign acts finally arrive.

The Return of the Ancients content update launched on Friday, May 29, 2026, according to IGN's patch notes breakdown. The update introduced the new Runes of Aldur League, endgame overhauls, new content, and balance adjustments.

No specific date for the 1.0 launch itself was included in the supplied reports, and none of them mention a Duelist class or a December availability window. What is confirmed is the ordering: 0.5.0 is the last major Early Access milestone.

## When Does Path of Exile 2 Go Free-to-Play?

According to VPEsports, Grinding Gear Games has confirmed that Path of Exile 2 becomes free-to-play when version 1.0 launches, at which point the missing campaign acts finally arrive. Return of the Ancients was described by the outlet as "the last major Early Access update before Path of Exile 2 Version 1.0."

This means the current Early Access period is drawing to a close on the strength of patch 0.5.0 and its follow-up patches. VPEsports characterized the release as the biggest Path of Exile 2 update since The Last of the Druids dropped in December 2025.

The supplied sources do not state an exact 1.0 release date, so players should treat the free-to-play transition as confirmed in principle but not yet dated in the material available. DualShockers separately referred to "the huge 1.0 drop later on this year" in its patch 0.5.5 coverage, describing the interim league as content created to keep players busy until then.

## What Is the Runes of Aldur League?

The Runes of Aldur League launched with Return of the Ancients on May 29, 2026, offering a fresh economy. According to IGN's patch notes, each area in the league contains a Remnant that lets you craft an item of your choosing using Runic Recipes engraved into the Remnant's slots.

Depending on the Runeshapes used, you then face an encounter with tough enemies that must be defeated to claim the item. Each additional runeshape used increases the number of enemy waves, and each wave adds additional runic modifiers to the enemies.

Remnants start with between 2 and 10 slots, with higher slot counts much rarer but allowing rarer items to be crafted. Monsters raised by Remnants can drop Verisium, a new currency. The update also added a new NPC, Farrow, with four new campaign quests that unlock various new crafting features.

## How Does Verisium Runeforging Work?

Patch 0.5.0 also introduced a new crafting system, Verisium Runeforging, detailed in IGN's patch notes. After unlocking it in Act 1, the system lets you add Runic Ward to your armours by spending Verisium.

The trade-offs are level-based. Armours lower than level 55 gain Runic Ward with no downside, while armours above that level trade some of their regular base defences for Runic Ward.

Runic Ward is a new defence layer that activates once you reach 1 life, allowing you to continue surviving while your Runic Ward takes damage. It regenerates independently of your life pool, making it a distinct mechanic rather than a simple health extension.

For players planning characters around the league's crafting loop, Verisium drops from Remnant-raised monsters, tying the new currency directly into the Runes of Aldur encounter structure.

## Which New Unique Items Arrive in Return of the Ancients?

Game director Mark Roberts personally showcased two new unique items arriving with Return of the Ancients, per VPEsports. Both drop as high-level uniques. Here is how the two compare:

VPEsports reports GGG built a completely new base item type specifically for Redemption, one that did not exist in the game before this patch. Developers described skilled Nightfall play, with good timing, as letting you chain these actions back to back.

## How Big Is the Return of the Ancients Update?

According to VPEsports, the two teased uniques are a small slice of the full patch 0.5.0 package:

IGN's coverage independently confirms the May 29, 2026 launch date and the Runes of Aldur League, alongside endgame overhauls and balance adjustments. Combined, the two reports frame Return of the Ancients as the largest content milestone of Path of Exile 2's Early Access finale.

## What Has Changed Since Patch 0.5.0?

Path of Exile 2 has continued receiving patches after 0.5.0 while awaiting version 1.0. Patch 0.5.5 added a new league, eight new challenges, Corrupted Nexus final-boss retries, Sacred Blooms that spawn a Viridian Wildwood, new Jiquani and Atziri Soul Cores, and Abyssal Ravines, per DualShockers.

Patch 0.5.5 also reworked the Trial of Chaos, adding Wager mods that can double rewards while increasing difficulty, and replacing gear loot with currency items as the primary reward, with gear now granted after every room in a separate chest, as covered by Sportskeeda.

Patch 0.5.5b, version 1.123 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, then enabled natural Expedition spawns in Endgame, increased Expedition, Temple, and Delirium Tablet drop rates, and fixed four client crashes, per UpdateCrazy.

## FAQ

Is Path of Exile 2 leaving Early Access?

Yes. Grinding Gear Games has confirmed that Return of the Ancients (patch 0.5.0) is the final full-scale Early Access update before Path of Exile 2 launches as version 1.0, according to VPEsports.

Will Path of Exile 2 be free-to-play?

Yes. VPEsports reports that when version 1.0 launches, the game goes free-to-play and the missing campaign acts finally arrive.

When does version 1.0 launch?

The supplied sources do not provide an exact 1.0 release date. DualShockers describes it only as "later on this year" in its patch 0.5.5 coverage.

What was in the final major Early Access update?

Return of the Ancients launched May 29, 2026 with the Runes of Aldur League, 15 new bosses including 4 Pinnacle fights, two new Ascendancy classes, 40+ new unique items, 50+ hours of endgame content, and the Verisium Runeforging crafting system.