Path of Exile 2 Teases Return of the Ancients - Full Content Reveal Coming May 7

Grinding Gear Games has dropped the first look at Path of Exile 2's next major content update, and the teaser is deliberately cryptic. The brief cinematic presents a massive fortress spanning continents appearing in Wraeclast, described as containing "mysteries and incredible challenges" beyond its walls. The update is titled Return of the Ancients, and based on the scale of what the teaser is hinting at, the name seems earned.

The full content reveal is not far off. GGG is hosting a live broadcast on May 7 at 1 PM PT. You can catch it on the Path of Exile Twitch channel or on YouTube. The teaser alone does not give much away - which is exactly the point.

Path of Exile 2 Version 0.5.0 Is the Next Step in Early Access

Return of the Ancients is version 0.5.0 of Path of Exile 2, which has been in paid Early Access since late 2024. The last major content drop, The Last of the Druids (version 0.4.0), landed in December 2025 and added the Druid class alongside a substantial rework of several systems. GGG has been methodical about its Early Access rollout, treating each version as a meaningful expansion of what the game can do rather than a routine patch.

Kelly Lonsdale, GGG's Lead Communications Manager, confirmed a dedicated media kit is available for press. Details beyond the cinematic teaser and the live broadcast announcement have not been shared ahead of the reveal, which suggests GGG is treating May 7/8 as a proper showcase moment. If the 0.4.0 reveal cadence is any indication, expect class announcements, new endgame mechanics, and league-specific content.

What to Watch For at the GGG Live Reveal

The description of "a giant fortress spanning continents" is a significant geographic claim for a game that has spent most of its runtime in Wraeclast's coastal and underground environments. That framing points toward either a new major zone, a new endgame layer, or both. GGG has previously used Early Access milestones to introduce entirely new acts, so 0.5.0 could extend the campaign rather than purely adding post-campaign content.

Path of Exile 2 is available in Early Access on Steam and will transition to free-to-play on full launch. For full details and any updates ahead of the broadcast, the official forum post is live at pathofexile.com.

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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 7:35 PM.