PoE 2 New League Season (0.3) Release Date & Updates (Druid, Act 4, Trade, & More)

Path of Exile 2 is entering an exciting chapter with the upcoming 0.3.0 league. Following a rough but promising launch of 0.2.0 (Dawn of the Hunt), the development team at Grinding Gear Games is preparing to roll out the next major league season. With rumors, developer interviews, and community speculation all converging, we now have a clearer picture of when and what to expect for the PoE 2 next 0.3.0 league season patch!

Path of Exile 2 New League Season Update (0.3.0 Patch)

The Path of Exile 2 community has been eagerly anticipating the next league update. Despite a turbulent start with performance issues and balance concerns, the game has continued to evolve with regular patches and community feedback. The upcoming 0.3.0 update represents the next big step. This league is expected to bring new content, improvements to gameplay systems, and potentially the long-awaited druid class.

PoE 2 Next New League Season (0.3.0) Release Date

UPDATE: The new patch 0.3.0 for Path of Exile 2 is set to be launched on August 29. This information has been confirmed and has already generated plenty of anticipation among players.

The next league update for Path of Exile 2 is expected to launch in early August 2025, based on a consistent four-month update cycle. The previous league, 0.2.0, launched on April 4, 2025, and developers have confirmed their intent to maintain a regular cadence between patches.

While no official date has been announced, many community members are predicting a release around August 8, as it would land exactly four months after 0.2 and ahead of competing ARPG releases like Last Epoch: Beneath Ancient Skies on August 21.

Grinding Gear Games has emphasized that they are committed to hitting dates, even if it means pushing some features to later patches. This means fans can expect a consistent release rhythm, even if not all features arrive at once.

PoE 2 0.3.0 Patch Notes - Next League Season Content Updates

Below we sum up the new content and changes that are known to appear in the 0.3.0 new league:

• New Druid Class

This 0.3.0 patch also brings the long-awaited Druid class. The Druid was originally planned for the previous league, Dawn of the Hunt, but was delayed as it was not yet ready. Now, players can expect a class with a lot of new animations and a fresh gameplay style. The Druid adds more variety and options when choosing a class, which many players are looking forward to.

• New Act 4 & Map Regions

One of the main features in this update is the addition of Act 4. A level 45 Druid was shown playing through Act 4 during a recent gameplay showcase, which confirms its presence in the upcoming patch. The region includes King’s March, an area with a familiar feel for fans who enjoyed it in the first game. There is some speculation about campaign progression: players might have four acts before reaching endgame, or possibly need to repeat the four acts to create a longer campaign, resulting in a total of eight acts. There are questions in the community about how enjoyable it would be to repeat acts to reach the endgame, with some concern about potential boredom if endgame activities are not expanded.

• Ascendancy Updates and Class Balance

Grinding Gear Games is focusing on making each ascendancy class feel distinct and powerful. Several classes are still missing their ascendancies, including the Huntress, Ranger, Monk, and Sorcerer. These are expected to be added in upcoming patches. The passive skill tree will also continue to evolve, aiming for more impactful and noticeable choices.

• Skill Gem Buffs and Balance Changes

Skill gems are receiving attention in this patch, with buffs planned for underpowered gems to help them become more viable. These changes are aimed at giving players more options and improving overall build diversity. Grinding Gear Games confirmed that a lot of balance adjustments are coming, especially for skill gems that have not seen much use.

• New Trade System

A new trade system is confirmed to be in development. Although specifics weren’t shared, it is expected to address long-standing frustrations like ghost listings, fake prices, and inaccessible sellers. The current speculation is that players might be able to set up a merchant system in their hideouts to handle trades even when offline. This feature is planned to release sometime before the full launch of PoE2.

• Loot and Crafting Improvements

Loot drop rates were improved in recent updates, but players are still asking for better crafting systems. Solo self-found players in particular feel that current reward systems are underwhelming. The team aims to make loot more consistent and boss rewards more satisfying, and further updates to loot scaling are expected in 0.3.

• New Chase Uniques

Patch 0.2.0 introduced several powerful chase uniques, such as The Last Lament crossbow and Palm of the Dreamer. These high-end items require specific crafting steps or Vaal Orbs, adding excitement for item hunters. More chase uniques are likely to arrive in 0.3.0 to support build diversity and economic activity.

• Socketable Runes and Resistance Management

There’s ongoing discussion in the community about the conflict between socketable runes and resistance management. Players want to use new powerful socketables, but many are forced to reserve those sockets for resistances. Developers have acknowledged this tension, and while no definitive solution has been presented, players are hoping for new ways to address resistances—possibly through the passive tree or omens.

• Movement Speed and Gameplay Flow

Movement speed and responsiveness continue to be a topic. While developers claim PoE2 matches PoE1 movement speed technically, many players feel it doesn’t feel as fast. The lack of flask-based speed boosts and limited mobility skills contributes to this perception. A small increase in baseline speed or removing hidden armor penalties may improve the feel of gameplay in future updates.

• Mid-League Changes and Buffs

Grinding Gear Games has made it clear that they prefer not to nerf mid-league, even if certain builds dominate. Instead, they focus on buffs and balance tweaks in between major updates. This approach aims to preserve player enjoyment and prevent backlash during active leagues.

• Endgame Expansion and Atlas Updates

The endgame is expected to receive more mid-tier content to ease the progression between early mapping and pinnacle bosses. Boss encounters, loot tables, and Atlas mechanics will likely be adjusted. Rogue exiles and Asmary spirits are two systems that players feel need more rewarding mechanics and stronger presence.

• Performance and Console Optimization

Performance remains a big concern, especially for console players, who represent around 20% of the PoE2 player base. Reports of crashes and lag are common on Xbox and PS5. Grinding Gear Games has stated that performance is a top priority and should improve before full release.

• Experience and Quality of Life Updates

Experience gains are also being updated to improve the quality of life for players, especially in the higher levels. The grind from level 95 to 100 is described as “like climbing the Everest,” so easing this process should be a welcome change. The developers are also aware of feedback about the pain of large maps that take too long to cross, and there is hope that future updates will address this, possibly making travel through large maps less tedious even with movement speed boosts.

• Other Content and Features

Players can expect new skill gems and a new ascendancy to be introduced. There is also a chance that new endgame content will be added, which would help keep players engaged after completing the main acts. Many believe that getting both a new act and new endgame activities would be the best scenario.