Our Path of Exile game hub collects the essentials; here is everything confirmed so far.
What is Path of Exile?
Path of Exile is a free-to-play action role-playing game from Grinding Gear Games, set in the dark world of Wraeclast. It is the original game in the series and continues to receive expansions alongside Path of Exile 2.
Release date and platforms
Path of Exile released on Xbox on 24 August 2017. It is available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S through the official Xbox Store listing.
Is it free to play?
Yes. Path of Exile is free to play on Xbox.
What is Covens of Umbra?
Path of Exile: Covens of Umbra is the game’s next expansion, revealed by Grinding Gear Games at ExileCon 2026. It launches on 13 November 2026, including on Xbox. The announcement gives the date in Pacific time with no launch hour, so the exact UK unlock time is unconfirmed. Our Covens of Umbra news story has the full announcement.
The Covens challenge league
In the new challenge league, covenites perform rites to summon their Queen. Disrupting those rituals lets players choose a Fate for the area’s boss, adding effects that raise both the difficulty and the rewards. An empowered boss can yield Viscera, which players place on their own Wickerman effigy to claim some of that enemy’s power.
Campaign bosses and bosses on Atlas maps each have their own Viscera to collect. Grim Fates extend the system to the Atlas’s toughest bosses, with Pinnacle Boss Viscera among the rewards, and players can also face the Coven Queen herself.
Threads of Creation replace Scarabs
Scarabs are being removed and replaced by Threads of Creation. These go directly into the Map device, applying a chosen league mechanic while increasing monster rarity and difficulty. Spending more Threads increases the chance of additional powerful effects, and the system can guarantee up to three different primary league mechanics in a player’s maps.
Atlas and loot changes
The Atlas Passive Tree has been redesigned with a new layout, new wheels, stats and effects, and some effects previously found on Scarabs are moving into it. Almost every endgame league mechanic is being adjusted, modified or revamped.
Unidentified Magic and Rare items can drop with a tier in the endgame, giving players more information before deciding what to pick up and identify. Rarity on maps and monsters will also improve all types of drops.
Who is making it?
It is developed and published by Grinding Gear Games.
Sources: Path of Exile, Grinding Gear Games announcement, Xbox Store.
