Path of Exile 2 is starting to turn a corner. After months of uncertainty, frustrations from the community, and lackluster early updates, Grinding Gear Games appears to be regaining some trust. Patch 0.2.0, often jokingly called "Patch G for Good," finally brought some long-awaited changes: better loot, improved boss rewards, and a smoother leveling experience. These updates helped address a few of the biggest complaints players had, and momentum is slowly building.

But the road ahead is still uncertain. Many players remain skeptical, waiting for more meaningful content before fully jumping in. That's why Patch 0.3.0 is so important. It has the potential to be a make-or-break update that redefines PoE 2's early access trajectory. The next league will likely bring new acts, classes, skills, balance changes, and endgame improvements. Here's what we know so far and what the community expects from Path of Exile 2's 0.3.0 update.

When Will Patch 0.3.0 Release?

While Grinding Gear Games hasn't released an official date yet, the most likely release window for Patch 0.3.0 is late July to early August 2025. This estimate follows the typical four-month league cycle. The current league, "0.2: Dawn of the Hunt," began on April 4, 2025, which points to a new league in late July or early August.

GGG usually announces new leagues 6 to 8 weeks before release, and devs have dropped hints about an upcoming reveal. The PoE community on platforms like Reddit and Discord has already started preparing for the new content, with some players even planning time off around a late-July launch.

Originally, GGG aimed for a full 1.0 release of PoE 2 in mid-to-late 2025. But that timeline appears to be shifting, as game director Jonathan Rogers has made it clear that the team is prioritizing polish and quality. That makes Patch 0.3 a potentially pivotal step toward the eventual 1.0 launch.

What's Coming in Patch 0.3.0?

While official details are limited, there are strong signs of what's coming based on developer commentary, previous patch trends, and community discussion.

1. New Acts – Acts 4 to 6 Likely to Arrive

One of the biggest updates in Patch 0.3 is expected to be the addition of Acts 4 through 6. Currently, players are stuck repeating Acts 1 to 3 in a placeholder "Cruel" difficulty. This design has been criticized heavily, as it kills momentum and forces repetition.

Adding three new acts in one go would smooth out the campaign and help eliminate early game fatigue. Act 4 is rumored to be set in the Karui Islands, based on lore drops and ExileCon teasers. Acts 5 and 6 will likely follow up on that storyline, expanding both gameplay and narrative depth.

GGG has said the goal is a 9-act campaign, so this would be a major milestone in achieving that vision. These additions would bring new environments, bosses, loot tables, and questlines to help refresh the entire campaign experience.

2. New Base Class: Druid and More Ascendancies

Another likely addition is a new base class, with most signs pointing toward the Druid. This class has been heavily speculated upon and fits the current pattern of releases. It's expected to offer shapeshifting, nature-based abilities, and hybrid melee/magic builds.

Path of Exile 2 will eventually feature 12 base classes, each with several Ascendancies. With only a handful released so far, the arrival of the Druid could bring new gameplay mechanics and build possibilities.

While the Templar class is also highly requested, it's believed to be scheduled for a later patch—potentially 0.4 or 0.5.

3. New Skills and Gem System Expansions

Patch 0.3 is also expected to bring new skill gems and support gems, particularly themed around the new base class. While specific gems haven't been confirmed, community members have speculated about the return of mechanics similar to Righteous Fire—a fan-favorite skill from the original game.

However, that kind of skill may be reserved for future patches. What's more likely in 0.3 is the addition of nature-themed skills that support the new Druid playstyle, potentially involving elemental damage, summons, or environmental manipulation.

PoE 2's redesigned gem system makes it easier to experiment with new builds. Since support gems now slot directly into active skill gems, players no longer have to hunt for specific item sockets or links. This makes the introduction of new skills far more accessible and building-defining.

4. Meta Balance Changes – Lightning Spear & Volt Under the Microscope

Currently, Lightning Spear combined with Volt and Tangletongue dominates the endgame. Over half of high-end players are using variations of this combo, largely due to its overwhelming damage output and synergy with critical strike nodes.

Expected balance changes in 0.3 may include:

• Lightning Spear: Potential nerfs to attack speed, range, or base damage.

• Volt: Likely adjustments to chain count or how quickly stacks build up.

• Amazon crit nodes: May be toned down to prevent abuse of crit synergies.

• Tangletongue: Unique weapon may get rebalanced or have crit multipliers reduced.

GGG usually saves big balance changes for league updates, so this patch is expected to bring a meta shake-up. The community is divided—some want a full nerf to this combo, while others argue for buffing weaker skills instead of gutting powerful ones.

5. Endgame System Improvements – Deepest Tower Expansion

The current endgame, Deepest Tower, hasn't landed well with many players. It's been described as repetitive and uninspired, lacking the thrill of PoE 1's complex Atlas mapping system.

Patch 0.3 is expected to bring changes such as:

• More rewarding floors: Better loot drops and deeper risk-reward progression.

• New boss mechanics: Late-game fights with more variety and challenge.

• Additional tiers or systems: New modes to extend post-campaign gameplay.

The Atlas Passive Tree, recently added in 0.2, may also get more nodes or options to specialize in content such as mapping, farming, or bossing.

A meaningful update to the endgame could bring back many players who felt like PoE 2 lost its post-campaign appeal.

6. Seasonal League Mechanic – New Gameplay Layer Incoming

Path of Exile is known for its seasonal leagues, and 0.3 will include a new one. While we don't yet know what it will be, it's likely to include:

• Campaign-integrated mechanics

• Alternate progression goals

• Specialized crafting or reward systems

• Time-limited challenges with cosmetics and loot

Players hope this league will feel more rewarding and balanced than earlier early access leagues, which often felt shallow or buggy. If GGG nails the pacing, difficulty, and loot rewards of the new league mechanic, it could become one of the highlights of 0.3.

7. Loot Progression – Continuing Improvements

Patch 0.2.0g was a major win for PoE 2's loot systems. Before it, players were often undergeared and frustrated with lackluster drops. That patch added:

• Guaranteed rare drops from bosses

• Improved loot quality

• More Marian Wisps and support item sources

Patch 0.3 is expected to expand on this foundation. With new acts, new enemies, and higher-level zones, players will need consistent and satisfying gear drops throughout the leveling journey.

The new loot system has helped make crafting during leveling more viable, something PoE 1 often lacked. Keeping that momentum going is key to player retention.

8. Crafting System – Still Needs Work

Crafting remains a hot topic in the community. While loot is improving, crafting is still seen as too random and too dependent on luck.

Common criticisms include:

• Lack of deterministic crafting

• Over-reliance on RNG modifiers

• Poor reward scaling for effort spent

GGG may not fully overhaul the system in 0.3, but quality-of-life changes are expected. These could include:

• Better visual indicators

• Easier access to basic crafting mods

• Improved resource sources during campaign

Most players want crafting to be more rewarding, more transparent, and less casino-like. If GGG can bridge that gap, it would go a long way in restoring faith in the game's itemization depth.

Final Thoughts

Path of Exile 2's Patch 0.3 is shaping up to be a major milestone. If GGG delivers on its promises—new acts, classes, skills, endgame content, and loot improvements—it could mark a real turning point for the game.

The early access journey hasn't been smooth, but many players are still rooting for PoE 2 to succeed. If 0.3 can build on the progress made in Patch 0.2.0g and deliver meaningful, fun, and rewarding content, it might be the patch that finally brings the wider community back.

Now we wait for the reveal, which should arrive by early summer. Until then, all eyes are on GGG to keep building on the foundations laid—and maybe, just maybe, surprise everyone with a comeback.