Path of Exile 2 ‘Return of the Ancients’ update release time in your time zone

Path of Exile 2‘s “Return of the Ancients” update will be released soon, bringing a complete overhaul of the game’s endgame system. While players won’t see new classes or weapons with patch 0.5, the additions and modifications made to the endgame mechanics and map significantly changes the PoE 2 experience.

Here, you’ll learn when Path of Exile 2‘s “Return of the Ancient” update will be released in your time zone, giving you time to prepare for all the novelties patch 0.5 is bringing.

What time does the Path of Exile 2 ‘Return of the Ancients’ update release?

Based on the timer on the official Path of Exile 2 site, the “Return of the Ancients” update releases on Friday, May 29 at 4 p.m. EDT. Below, you can find what this looks like in your time zone:

• 1 p.m. PDT on Friday, May 29 for the west coast of North America
• 4 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 29 for the east coast of North America
• 5 p.m. BRT on Friday, May 29 for Brazil
• 9 p.m. BST on Friday, May 29 for the U.K.
• 10 p.m. CEST on Friday, May 29 for western Europe
• 5 a.m. JST on Saturday, May 30 for Japan
• 6 a.m. AEST on Saturday, May 30 for the east coast of Australia

Along with the release of the new update, a free weekend will start, lasting from Friday, May 29 to Monday, June 1 at 4 p.m. EDT on Windows PC and Xbox Series X. During this period, anyone can start playing Path of Exile 2 without an early access key. All the progress made during the free weekend is saved to your account, and you can obtain free cosmetics depending on your progression.

What to expect from Path of Exile 2 ‘Return of the Ancients’ update

Announced as the largest update Grinding Gear Games has ever made, “Return of the Ancients” promises to improve the PoE 2 endgame experience, an important step before the 1.0 version comes out. However, patch 0.5 brings more than just maps and powerful bosses.

While the changes to the endgame are extensive, the most important one is the streamlined introduction to the Atlas map and endgame activities.

Starting with “Return of the Ancients,” once you complete the campaign, you will encounter storylines that introduce the mechanics of previous leagues and lead to a weaker version of a pinnacle boss. This gives players both a goal and a finish line for those who may want to take a break before the next league — something game director Jonathan Rogers said GGG focused on in this update.

You won’t need to only revisit old league mechanics in this update, though. The “Runes of Aldur” league launches alongside patch 0.5 and it introduces a brand-new rune crafting system that lets you obtain some weird — but powerful — upgrades. In addition, GGG is adding two new ascendencies to the game: the Spiritwalker and the Martial Artist, both of which offer fresh gameplay styles and builds to experiment while exploring the new league.