Grinding Gear Games released Path of Exile 2 in early access last December, and hardcore ARPG fans have praised it for fulfilling their desire for a challenge that Diablo IV has been unable to satisfy. Today, in an extensive live stream, the studio delved into the many changes coming in its Third Edict update, which goes live at the end of this month on August 29, 2025.
It'll also be going live as part of a free weekend promotion, so if you've been curious about trying Path of Exile 2 for yourself, you'll be able to jump in alongside veterans of the game's early access period when the new update goes live.
Some of the biggest changes in this update include the removal of the Cruel difficulty level, with the studio introducing three interlude acts that players can go through as part of changes to the endgame experience. The introduction of trading is also, of course, major news for the player base.
The introduction of a new act, however, with Act IV being added to the game with this update, is the headlining addition for most players.
Alongside the Third Edict is the addition of a new league, Secrets of Abyssal, which introduces a number of cool features for how players can adjust and re-adjust their character builds.
The full patch notes will reveal all of the specifics that hardcore fans of the series will want to dig into, but those won't arrive until a bit closer to the update's launch next week. For now, you can pore over the live stream and look forward to what's to come in Path of Exile 2 next week.
About the author: David has been writing about videogames, technology, and culture since 2020, with a focus on reporting daily news across multiple publications, including GameDaily.Biz, GameSkinny, and PlayStation Universe before joining Wccftech in 2025. David started contributing as Canada/US reporter for Wccftech's gaming section in 2025. Besides being up-to-date on the industry's movements, he loves interviewing developers, reviewing games, and writing intricate essays about the symbolism and layered meanings to be found in rich narratives as he's done for publications like GamesIndustry.Biz, LostInCult, and others. Outside of games he loves movies, music, theatre, his hometown, and his family, though not necessarily in that order.
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