Path of Exile 2 is preparing for its biggest update yet. Grinding Gear Games has officially unveiled Update 0.5, Return of the Ancients, launching on May 29. Far from being a routine patch, this expansion is shaping up to be a sweeping POE2 Currency overhaul of the endgame—one that could redefine how players experience the Infinite Atlas.

This isn’t a new class reveal, a fresh campaign act, or a temporary league mechanic. Instead, Return of the Ancients is focused squarely on expanding and evolving the endgame. For players already pushing deep into the Atlas, this update looks set to introduce an entirely new layer of progression, exploration, lore, and challenge.

A New Era for the Infinite Atlas

The teaser trailer makes one thing abundantly clear: the current endgame structure is about to become much larger.

At the center of the reveal is the familiar Burning Monolith, currently the gateway to the Arbiter of Ash encounter. In Patch 0.5, however, this monolith appears to be only a small part of a much larger structure—a sprawling fortress or megastructure rising from the Atlas itself.

Rather than replacing the Infinite Atlas, GGG appears to be expanding it dramatically. Think of this as a massive new endgame layer built on top of the existing Atlas system.

Players can likely expect:

Vast new regions to explore
Additional map types
New boss encounters
Expanded progression systems
Unique rewards and loot opportunities
Enhanced Atlas passive tree interactions

This fortress may function as a kind of interconnected endgame dungeon—an enormous zone that stretches across multiple Atlas regions.

The Burning Monolith's True Purpose

Currently, the Burning Monolith serves as the pinnacle of Path of Exile 2's endgame, housing the battle against the Arbiter of Ash. But Update 0.5 suggests this is only the beginning.

The trailer reveals that the monolith is actually part of a much larger ancient complex. This raises several fascinating possibilities:

The current Arbiter encounter may become an entry point to a broader endgame questline.
The Burning Monolith could serve as the central hub for new Ancient-themed content.
Players may unlock additional wings, chambers, or pathways as they progress.

This evolution mirrors how Path of Exile 1 gradually expanded its Atlas endgame through major updates. Path of Exile 2 now appears poised to establish its own long-term endgame identity.

Who Are the Ancients?

The titular Ancients are among the most mysterious beings in the world of Wraeclast.

They predate many of the civilizations and entities players already know. Importantly:

They existed before the Vaal Empire.
They predate Sin and many of the gods.
They are not gods themselves.
They appear to possess immense power over the world itself.

Throughout Path of Exile 2, players have already encountered clues to their existence through:

Precursor Tablets
Precursor Towers
Ancient ruins and architecture
The Excavation map in Act 4

These artifacts strongly suggest that the Ancients—also known as the Precursors—were master builders, world-shapers, and perhaps even guardians of Wraeclast.

Connections to Act 4 and the Excavation

One of the most exciting discoveries from the teaser is its direct connection to the Excavation content in Act 4.

The statues shown in the trailer appear to match the figures depicted in the Ancient ruins found during the Excavation questline. These same figures are associated with the forging of the weapon used against the Beast in ages past.

This has major lore implications.

The Ancients were likely responsible for:

Constructing the great forges of old
Creating the weapon used in the original battle against the Beast
Shaping vast portions of Wraeclast
Preserving—or perhaps controlling—the world's balance

If these figures are indeed the Ancients, they may serve as the primary antagonists—or perhaps reluctant allies—of the new endgame story.

Eight New Ancient Bosses?

Sharp-eyed fans have identified eight distinct Ancient figures surrounding a central statue in the teaser.

That’s unlikely to be decorative.

Each statue could represent:

A major boss encounter
A unique progression milestone
A guardian or ruler of a different section of the fortress
Specialized reward paths

If true, Return of the Ancients could introduce one of the most ambitious boss ecosystems in the franchise's history.

Imagine a progression system where each Ancient offers cheap Path of Exile 2 Currency:

Unique mechanics
Exclusive loot tables
Lore revelations
Access to deeper sections of the fortress

And at the center may lie an ultimate confrontation that ties the entire Ancient storyline together.