The next Path of Exile league is delayed to steer clear of the PoE 2 launch

With Path of Exile 2 arriving a little later than previously planned, developer Grinding Gear Games has reworked the plans for its predecessor. The first Path of Exile isn’t being retired with the PoE 2 launch and will instead continue running alongside the new game. However, to give its sequel room to breathe, GGG is extending the free ARPG’s current league into 2025. If you need something to tide you over for now, however, a special new event is about to kick off that lets you snag a free cosmetic item.

“Path of Exile has received two new expansions this year with the ongoing Settlers of Kalguur being one of the most successful leagues ever,” GGG writes in a blog on the official website for the free Steam game. It explains that, despite the recent delay into December, the Path of Exile 2 release date “is a very important milestone for us and we’ve been working very hard to make it happen.”

As such, the next PoE1 expansion and Path of Exile patch 3.26 will not launch this year. GGG says it plans to announce the new league “in early 2025 (think late January),” but notes that this window is flexible due to the potential challenges of the PoE 2 launch. Instead, a new variant of the Settlers of Kalguur league is beginning in just one week.

Offering a fresh economy and a ladder reset, this new-look event league will function much like the base version of Settlers of Kalguur, but it also includes the enemy modifiers for each area that were a key feature of the previous league, Necropolis. Unlike in Necropolis, however, these modifiers “will only be rewarding,” GGG explains, with bonuses to the likes of item or currency drop chances and enemy pack sizes.

This new league will run alongside the existing Settlers league, so you can keep playing on your current character if you prefer. If you do choose to play in the new event league and reach level 50 on any character, however, you will be rewarded with a guaranteed Settlers mystery box, which includes a random cosmetic from a selection of the new additions in patch 3.25. If you already own them all, you’ll instead get two Polaris mystery boxes.

This decision seems pretty straightforward, given the desire to not have the two games clash. The introduction of the new event league is also a welcome touch that should provide an excuse to revisit the Settlers league (or to check it out for the first time, if you skipped it initially) ahead of Path of Exile 2.

The Path of Exile Settlers of Kalguur event league begins on Thursday November 7, and will run until the next league begins in early 2025. Much like regular seasonal leagues, your characters and items will be transferred over to standard when this new event league comes to a close.

If you’ve had your fill of Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred, or you’re just eager for a free PC game that’s worth your time, Path of Exile’s Settlers of Kalguur league is a great time to give it a shot. It introduces a town management game that gives you an all-new way to get your hands on that delicious loot.

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