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Continue ShoppingPath of Exile 2 is still in Early Access, but Patch 0.4 already feels like the next big step for the game. Players are talking about it everywhere — Discord, Reddit, and even in global chat — and for good reason. The patch marks a new league, new systems, and probably a shake-up of the whole meta. If you're trying to figure out when it arrives and what to prepare for, here's a simple breakdown based on what we know so far.
The developers have confirmed that Patch 0.4 is planned for early December 2025, but they still haven't given a specific date. PoE usually pushes out big updates on Fridays, so many players guess it'll land on the first or second Friday of December.
Nothing is official yet, but "early December" gives us a pretty tight window. If you're the type who likes to schedule game time in advance, expect the patch in the first half of the month.
Yes — the current league will wrap up right as Patch 0.4 launches.
Characters will move over to the Standard or Hardcore Early Access leagues, and nothing gets wiped. This part is always a relief for players who grind late-league goals or chase rare drops: your progress stays safe.
This is the big question, and it's what most players are excited about.
Patch 0.4 is expected to introduce:
Some players also hope Patch 0.4 will introduce the long-rumored new class, but the developers haven't confirmed anything. Still, PoE patches usually bring at least one surprise, so expectations are pretty high.
Every major update comes with server downtime, so Patch 0.4 will definitely have a short maintenance window. Most players also expect some level of meta shake-up, since league patches often introduce new skill numbers, adjust scaling, or fix long-standing balance issues.
If you're still working on your current build, don't worry — nothing gets deleted. But it might be smart not to over-invest in min-max upgrades in the last week of the league, just in case your favorite skill gets adjusted.
PoE launches patches globally, but the experience can differ by region depending on time zones. When GGG says “early December,” what they really mean is “early December in their local time,” and that often shifts for players in Asia, Europe, or the Americas.
If you want to be online right when Patch 0.4 starts, keep an eye on the official announcement — they usually give a clear countdown a few days before launch.
A lot of players like to prep ahead of time, and there are a few easy things you can do:
And don't forget: league starts are always busy. Make sure your PC or console is updated and stable so you don't lose an hour to patching.
Probably not, but Patch 0.4 is still a major milestone. Players often ask if this is the last big update before the full 1.0 release, but GGG tends to release several big patches before they lock in a full version.
Think of Patch 0.4 as another big step forward — not the end of the Early Access cycle, but definitely a key part of it.
A lot of players are hoping for improvements to performance, skill balance, and the overall feel of the late-game grind. While patch notes aren't out yet, it's almost certain that Patch 0.4 will include a big list of bug fixes and tweaks.
If you've been struggling with lag spikes, skill scaling issues, or weird map flow problems, there's a good chance some of those rough edges will be smoothed out.
Patch 0.4 looks like one of those turning-point updates for PoE2 — the kind of patch that resets the meta, brings fresh systems, and pushes the game closer to its full release. Even without a locked-in date, “early December” already tells us enough to prepare. Clean your stash, finish your league goals, and get ready — the next big update isn't far away.
