Path of Exile 2 becomes free-to-play this coming weekend! Check out when the free weekend starts and what fans can expect during this period.
Path of Exile 2 Available to Play For Free This Weekend
Begins May 29
Path of Exile 2 (PoE2) will be available to play for a limited time this weekend in celebration of its Return of the Ancients update. As announced by developer Grinding Gear Games on the game’s social media accounts on May 25, the free weekend runs from May 29 until June 1, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and Epic Games.
All progress players will make during this limited-time free-to-play event will be saved to their accounts, so they can continue their adventure once they purchase the game. As a bonus, PoE2 Early Access will be 50% off from May 29 to June 12.
Free Cosmetics
During the free-to-play event, players can earn exclusive cosmetics by reaching specific early-game thresholds. These rewards are obtainable by participating in the Runes of Aldur League over the weekend.
After reaching the clearfell encampment, players can get the Ezomyte Rune Scars character skin that covers their characters with bloody rune markings. They can also unlock the Candlemass Portal cosmetic once they defeat Count Geonor in Ogham Manor.
Return of the Ancients Update Adds New Endgame Content, Classes, and More
PoE2’s upcoming Return of the Ancients update will be the biggest expansion the game will have since launching in Early Access. This will include five distinct endgame storylines designed to give players a concrete sense of completion rather than an infinite map grind.
Alongside these sweeping system revamps comes the Runes of Aldur challenge league, a fresh-economy event centered around ancient Kalguuran runesmithing. This league introduces a brand-new defensive layer called Runic Ward, unique zero-attribute skills that actively consume this ward pool, and a Mystic Refuge crafting mechanic that upgrades low-level Unique items into endgame-viable gear.
The update also adds two new Ascendancy classes: the frontline, illusion-wielding Martial Artist (Monk) and the beast-channeling Spirit Walker (Huntress). Highly requested quality-of-life features aimed at smoothing the player experience will be featured, including a native in-game build planner that supports external file imports, an integrated market price-checker to eliminate the need for third-party websites, and visual navigation aids for early campaign layouts.
The expansion also introduces new challenges, over 30 maps, and more than 40 unique items.
Twitch Drops Offer More Rewards
To commemorate the upcoming release of Return of the Ancients, PoE2 will be running two weeks of Twitch Drops starting from May 29. This event rewards players with unique cosmetic items, as well as a new pet, with the Support a Streamer campaign.
The first week of Path of Exile 2 Twitch Drops features the Arbiter of Ash Waypoint. Players can earn this reward by watching any channel in the PoE 2 category for a total of 3 hours. This promotion runs from May 29 at 1:00 PM PDT / 4:00 PM EDT until June 6 at 4:59 AM PDT / 7:59 AM EDT.
Week 2 of the campaign offers the Wendigo’s Crown Helmet Attachment, which requires another 3 hours of watch time in the same category. This reward will be available from June 6 at 5:00 AM PDT / 8:00 AM EDT until June 13 at 4:59 AM PDT / 7:59 AM EDT.
Support a Streamer Campaign
Alongside two weeks of Twitch Drops, PoE2 will also be holding a campaign to support their community streamers. From May 29, 1:00 PM PDT / 4:00 PM EDT to June 13, 4:59 AM PDT / 7:59 AM EDT, players can either purchase or gift 2 Twitch subscriptions of any tier to receive the Verisium Parasite Pet.
While the developers have yet to specify an official 1.0 launch date for the full game, fans are eager to dive into this massive wave of content this weekend, with many anticipating that a final release window announcement is just around the corner.
Path of Exile 2 is set to launch its version 1.0 this year on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games. To stay up to date with the latest information about the game, check out our article below.
Sources:
Free Path of Exile 2 Weekend & Early Access Key Sale + Free Cosmetics on May 29 - June 1 PDT
Play Path of Exile 2 for Free on May 29 - June 1 PDT
Path of Exile 2: Return of the Ancients Official Trailer
Path of Exile 2: Return of the Ancients Launch Twitch Drops
