Path of Exile 3.26 is almost here, and for longtime fans of the game, the wait has been particularly long. After nearly a year without a major expansion to Path of Exile 1, Grinding Gear Games has officially announced patch 3.26, titled Secrets of the Atlas. This expansion continues the long-standing tradition of major updates focused on endgame mapping and Atlas progression, and promises to introduce significant quality-of-life improvements, endgame reworks, and new league mechanics.

PoE 3.26 League Release Date

The official release date for Path of Exile 3.26 is June 13, 2025, for most players around the world. For those in regions like Australia, it will become available a day later, on June 14. This release will be preceded by a reveal livestream on June 6, 2025, hosted on Twitch. As usual, viewers who tune in to the livestream with their Twitch accounts linked to their PoE accounts can expect free Twitch Drops, such as cosmetic rewards and in-game items.

Secrets of the Atlas League Overview

Secrets of the Atlas seems to be a large-scale expansion that focuses once again on the Atlas of Worlds, the foundation of Path of Exile's endgame. Historically, “Atlas” expansions like Atlas of Worlds, War for the Atlas, and Siege of the Atlas have dramatically reshaped mapping, added new bosses, and introduced powerful crafting systems. This patch looks to follow suit.

Confirmed Features and Content in 3.26

One of the biggest confirmed features is the long-awaited introduction of a pause function. After years of requests, GGG has finally implemented a system where the game will pause during single-player scenarios when pressing Escape or opening certain full-screen menus like the passive skill tree. However, during pinnacle encounters—such as fights against the Uber Elder or the Maven—the game will not pause, and instead a “Cannot Pause” debuff will be applied to prevent players from exploiting the mechanic during high-stakes gameplay. This is a major quality-of-life addition, especially for casual and solo players.

Another confirmed change is the expansion of the Orb of Horizon's functionality. Previously, this orb could only be used on base map types to roll them into different maps of the same tier. Now, it can also be used to cycle through Elder Guardians and Sirus Conquerors. For example, if you have an Enslaver map, you can use the Orb of Horizon to convert it to another Elder Guardian map, such as the Eradicator, Purifier, or Constrictor. Similarly, players can rotate through Conqueror maps. This makes targeting specific Guardians or bosses much easier and is likely to lower the market value of certain maps.

GGG is also adding a storage panel to the map device interface. This extra panel will allow players to store maps, scarabs, and boss fragments directly inside the device, making endgame bossing and map preparation more efficient. This is not a full inventory solution like Path of Exile 2's backpack system, but it's a welcome addition for organizing endgame content.

Another small but impactful quality-of-life feature involves Path Of Exile currency usage. When players use currencies like Orbs of Alchemy or Scarabs, the user interface will now visually highlight the maps or items to which the currency can be applied. This is a feature originally seen in Path of Exile 2 and has now been brought over to the first game. It's a subtle improvement, but one that reduces misclicks and helps newer players understand item interactions better.

Expected and Speculated Features

There are strong signs that Secrets of the Atlas will introduce a new Atlas customization system. Players have noticed new node clusters or “constellations” appearing around the Atlas interface in preview footage. These could function like cluster jewels or mini skill trees, providing unique and customizable boosts to specific content. They might also be socketable or influenced by special jewels, similar to systems seen in earlier leagues like Forbidden Sanctum or the Legacy of Phrecia.

The expansion is also expected to include a new league mechanic. Historically, every Atlas-based expansion has launched with a league attached to it—Ritual with Echoes of the Atlas, Metamorph with Conquerors, and Archnemesis with Siege. If Secrets of the Atlas continues this trend, players can expect a brand-new mechanic that brings either a loot-based or challenge-based system to maps. Some believe the new mechanic may resemble Ritual again, involving defined zones where players kill waves of enemies, but nothing is confirmed yet.

The Settlers League from the previous patch, which featured a city-building mechanic, has received mixed feedback. It remains unclear whether it will go core in 3.26. Some players argue that the passive income it provided made it feel too mandatory, and it could face changes if it's included. On the other hand, mechanics like recombinators and enchanting—both fan favorites—are more likely to return in some capacity.

Every major Atlas update has also brought new crafting systems and new influence types. In Siege of the Atlas, the introduction of Eldritch Influence changed the meta completely, giving players new ways to craft items using currency like Embers and Ichor. We'll likely see a similar addition in 3.26. These new influence types may provide new mod pools or item bases, and if the past is any indication, this new system could dramatically shift how crafting works.

There's also been growing speculation about the continuation of the gold currency system introduced in past leagues. The auction house interface and gold usage for trading appear to still be in place, according to recent UI leaks. Gold is primarily used in trade and black-market systems, and its continued presence suggests that these mechanics will remain in place, potentially becoming part of the permanent PoE 1 experience.

New Endgame Content and Bosses

With every major update, new pinnacle bosses are expected. If 3.26 follows the path of previous expansions, there will be at least one new boss added to the endgame. This boss will likely have an Uber version, designed to challenge the most dedicated players. Some players are predicting new Tier 17 maps tied to these encounters, which may drop new chase uniques or introduce a new class of rewards.

The new expansion will also likely include a massive skill balance update. GGG usually takes major patches as an opportunity to buff underused skills and nerf overpowered ones. Lightning Strike builds using Ephemeral Edge have been top-tier for a while and are expected to be nerfed. Chaos DoT builds like Essence Drain and Contagion, which have been on the decline, may see buffs. Skills like Spell Slinger may be reworked to reduce the cost of using both mana and reservation, and old favorites like Storm Brand and self-cast spells could return to the spotlight.

Potential New Ascendancy Options

In the Trial of the Ancestors league, we saw 19 alternate ascendancies—one for each class. These were a hit with players, offering new archetypes like trickster-style rangers or support-based witches. There's some hope that GGG will add these as permanent ascendancy options in 3.26, potentially accessible via special jewels or passive tree interactions. This would bring the total number of ascendancies per class to four instead of three, and dramatically expand build diversity.

Legacy Features and Community Hopes

Several systems introduced in recent leagues are still up for debate. Recombinators—a powerful item modification system—have been requested by the community for reintroduction, ideally with some balance adjustments. Enchanting systems and alternative ascendancies are also features players would like to see stick around. However, the idol system (customizable Atlas nodes) received criticism for creating massive wealth disparities between casual and hardcore players, and many hope it doesn't return in the same form.

GGG is also looking into improving accessibility for newer players. One idea being discussed is unlimited respawns during boss fights while players are learning the mechanics. This feature wouldn't affect experienced players, but it could help reduce the steep learning curve that turns some new players away.

Finally, WASD movement is still being discussed as a future possibility, pending animation and rigging updates. While not directly tied to 3.26, it's another sign of how GGG is planning long-term improvements for the game, even as development ramps up for Path of Exile 2.

Conclusion

Patch 3.26: Secrets of the Atlas is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious expansions for Path of Exile 1 in years. With long-awaited features like pause functionality, expanded endgame systems, quality-of-life changes, and possible new ascendancies, GGG is clearly pulling out all the stops. As the June 13 release date approaches, all eyes are on the June 6 reveal for a complete look at what's coming next. Whether you're a bossing fanatic, a build theorycrafter, or just excited to jump back into Wraeclast, 3.26 looks like it's going to deliver.