Path of Exile 2 0.6 follow-up: Act 4 reveal + 1.0 release window

Path of Exile 2 0.6 "The Last of the Vaal" launches September 12, 2026 as the final major patch before 1.0. The patch adds Act 4 (the last act of the main campaign), 4 new endgame systems, and confirms the 1.0 release window for Q4 2026.

This is the biggest pre-1.0 patch in PoE 2 history. The patch is expected to draw back lapsed players and set the stage for the 1.0 release.

Act 4: "The Last of the

Vaal"

Act 4 is the final act of the main campaign. The act focuses on the Vaal civilization, the ancient empire that ruled Wraeclast before the Eternal Empire.

The story

The player is sent to the Vaal ruins in the southern continent of Vastiri. The act is a return to the PoE 1 setting (Wraeclast was introduced in PoE 1 Act 1, and the Vaal are central to PoE 1 Act 2 and 4).

The new zones

The Vastiri Desert —

a large open zone with 3 sub-areas, the southern-most zone in the game

The Vaal Ruins — a

multi-level dungeon with 5 sub-areas, the most-explorable area in PoE 2

The Apex of Atzoatl

— a single-encounter zone, the largest single area in PoE 2

The new boss

Aruala, the Last Vaal

— the act boss, a multi-phase fight (3 phases, 3 minutes each)

Drops: Aruala's

Heart (a unique amulet with 4 randomized modifiers), Vaal Soul (a crafting material)

First-clear reward:

the "Last of the Vaal" title + the "Apex of Atzoatl" portal effect

The 4 new endgame systems

1. The Atlas of Worlds

(rework)

The Atlas of Worlds (the end-game mapping system) is getting a full rework. The new Atlas is:

25 maps (up from 18

in 0.5.0)

5 tiers of difficulty

(White → Yellow → Red → Purple → Crimson)

Randomized layouts

per map (no two maps are the same)

Boss density increased

3x (more bosses per map)

2. The Temple of Atzoatl

(rework)

The Temple of Atzoatl (the roguelike temple from PoE 1) is being reworked for PoE 2. The new Temple is:

Procedurally generated

(different every run)

3 difficulty tiers

(Normal → Cruel → Merciless, the PoE 1 difficulty system)

Boss drops include

3 new unique items

3. The Syndicate rework

The Immortal Syndicate (the betrayal system from PoE 1) is getting a full rework. The new Syndicate is:

10 syndicate members

(up from 9 in PoE 1)

3 ranks per member

(up from 3 in PoE 1)

**New betrayal

encounters** for each member

New rewards including

the "Syndicate Operative" unique body armor

4. The new Beasts system

The Einhar Beast system (from PoE 1) is being reworked for PoE 2. The new Beasts system is:

20 beast types (up

from 12 in PoE 1)

5 legendary beasts (up

from 4 in PoE 1)

Beast crafting — you

can now craft items using beast parts (the PoE 1 "Bestiary" system)

The 1.0 release window

Per the official GGG announcement, PoE 2 1.0 launches in Q4 2026 — most likely November or December 2026.

The 1.0 release will be the official "full release" of PoE 2, ending the Early Access era. Key changes for 1.0:

Full pricing model —

PoE 2 will go free-to-play with optional paid cosmetics, no pay-to-win

Season system — 4

seasons per year, each with a new league and a new mechanic

Console launch —

PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the first time PoE 2 has been on console

Mobile companion app

— for stash management and trading

The pricing model

Per the official GGG FAQ, PoE 2 1.0 will be free-to- play with optional paid cosmetics. The exact pricing:

Base game: $0 (free-

to-play)

Cosmetic store:

microtransactions (cosmetic armor, weapon effects, portal effects, character effects)

Supporter packs:

$30, $60, $120, $250 (one-time purchases, no pay-to-win)

No stash tabs sold —

stash tabs are in-game earnable (the PoE 1 model)

The free-to-play model is the same as PoE 1, which has been the most- successful free-to-play ARPG since 2013.

The console launch

PoE 2 1.0 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in Q4 2026. The console version is built from the ground up (no porting from PC) and includes:

**Full controller

support** — every skill, every menu, every UI element is controller- navigable

Cross-prog with PC —

your character, your items, your progress are shared across PC and console

Crossplay with PC —

you can queue with PC players (or with console- only matchmaking)

4K @ 60 FPS on PS5

and Xbox Series X

1440p @ 60 FPS on

Xbox Series S

The console launch is the biggest expansion in PoE 2's history and is expected to drive 2-3M new players in Q4 2026.

The new league mechanic

The 0.6 update also introduces a new league mechanic for the 0.6 league. The mechanic is called "The Last of the Vaal" (same as the patch name):

Vaal Ruins —

procedurally generated in each zone

Vaal Soul crafting —

a new crafting system using Vaal Soul items

Aruala's Chosen —

a new mini-boss that drops exclusive loot

1-month duration —

the 0.6 league runs Sep 12 - Oct 12, 2026

What's next

Sep 12: 0.6 "The

Last of the Vaal" launches

Oct 12: 0.6 league

ends

Nov-Dec: 1.0

releases

Q1 2027: First

season of 1.0

FAQ

When does PoE 2 0.6

launch?

September 12, 2026.

What's new in PoE 2 0.6?

Act 4 (the last act before 1.0), 4 new endgame systems (Atlas rework, Temple rework, Syndicate rework, Beasts rework), and the new 0.6 league ("The Last of the Vaal").

When is PoE 2 1.0?

Q4 2026 (most likely November or December).

Will PoE 2 be free-to-

play at 1.0?

Yes. PoE 2 1.0 will be free-to-play with optional paid cosmetics. The exact pricing model is the same as PoE 1.

Will PoE 2 launch on

console?

Yes, PoE 2 1.0 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in Q4 2026. Full controller support, cross-prog with PC, crossplay with PC.

What is the new league

mechanic?

Vaal Soul crafting — a new crafting system using Vaal Soul items, plus the procedurally generated Vaal Ruins in each zone. 1-month duration.

What is Act 4 about?

Act 4 is set in the Vastiri Desert and the Vaal Ruins. The act is a return to the PoE 1 setting (the Vaal are central to PoE 1 Act 2 and 4). The act boss is Aruala, the Last Vaal.

What are the 4 new

endgame systems?

Atlas of Worlds rework (25 maps, 5 tiers), Temple of Atzoatl rework (procedural, 3 tiers), Syndicate rework (10 members, 3 ranks), and Beasts system (20 types, 5 legendary).