TL;DR
- POE 3.26 expansion delayed to early 2025 with Settlers League extended
- New event launches November 7 PST with hourly rotating monster mods
- Fresh economy and ladder reset across all game modes
- Guaranteed Settlers Mystery Box reward for reaching level 50
- Event available on all platforms with character migration post-event
Following the confirmation of Path of Exile 2’s Early Access release schedule, Grinding Gear Games has provided crucial updates regarding the upcoming Path of Exile 1 expansion cycle. This strategic adjustment reflects the studio’s commitment to delivering polished content across both game ecosystems.

Throughout this year, Path of Exile 1 has maintained strong momentum with two substantial expansions, including the highly successful Settlers of Kalguur league that continues to engage players. While the POE2 launch timeline experienced adjustments, achieving Early Access availability remains a critical development milestone that the team continues to pursue with focused determination.
After comprehensive internal evaluation, GGG made the strategic decision to postpone the 3.26 expansion until early 2025. Current projections indicate a late January announcement window, though the studio maintains flexibility to accommodate potential development challenges inherent in launching major new projects. Consequently, the Settlers League duration will extend into the new year, providing continued content for the dedicated player base.
To enhance player experience during this extended interim period, GGG will introduce a revitalized version of Settlers of Kalguur on November 7 PST. This special event incorporates innovative mechanics while running concurrently with the standard league, offering both familiarity and novelty.
Engaging with this event provides access to Settlers League content across Standard, Hardcore, Solo Self-Found, and Solo Self-Found Hardcore modes. Each mode features a completely reset economic environment and ladder system, creating equitable starting conditions for all participants.
Achieving level 50 in any event variant guarantees one Settlers Mystery Box per account. All existing Settlers challenges remain accessible, enabling completion for players who haven’t yet finished them. For advanced optimization, focus on builds that excel in clearing monster packs efficiently to maximize reward acquisition from the modified mechanics.
This special iteration introduces area-specific monster modifications that players can influence upon zone entry, drawing inspiration from the Necropolis league mechanics. However, unlike its predecessor, these modifications exclusively generate beneficial rewards rather than presenting risk-reward tradeoffs.
The modification pool remains consistent across all players but rotates hourly within each area, including endgame mapping content. Strategic planning around these rotation cycles can significantly enhance reward acquisition efficiency.
• Start Date: November 7 PST at 1 PM (November 7, 2024, 1:00 PM PST in your local time)
• End Date: Early 2025
• Based On: Settlers League
• Not Voided: Characters and items will migrate into the parent league afterward
• Platforms: PC and Console
Q: Will the event be available on all platforms?
A: Yes, the event maintains full cross-platform support identical to the base game.
Q: Is it possible to use my current character?
A: No, all participants must create new characters specifically for the event environment.
Q: Will the Necropolis crafting mechanics be included in the event?
A: The event incorporates only the Lantern mechanic for modifying area attributes. The complete Necropolis area environment and Undertaker Arimor interactions remain exclusive to their original league implementation.
Q: How can I join the event?
A: The character selection interface displays an event participation panel beneath your existing characters. The ‘join’ option activates thirty minutes before commencement, though characters remain immobilized until the official start time.
Q: Is it possible to create Private League versions of this event?
A: Private League functionality will not extend to this special event iteration.
Q: When will I receive a Mystery Box?
A: Account qualification for the Settlers Mystery Box triggers automatically upon any event character reaching level 50.
Q: What if I already own all the microtransactions from the Settlers Mystery Box?
A: Players possessing the complete Settlers Mystery Box collection will instead receive two Polaris Mystery Boxes as compensation.
During this transitional phase, we encourage participation in both the ongoing Settlers of Kalguur league and the upcoming November 7 event. This refreshed experience delivers novel engagement with the established league mechanics while introducing strategic depth through the rotating modification system.
Common mistakes to avoid include attempting to transfer existing characters and underestimating the economic advantages of starting fresh. Allocate approximately 4-6 hours of gameplay to reach the level 50 reward threshold with an optimized leveling strategy.
Stay informed about additional updates as we approach the new calendar year. The continued enthusiasm and support from the Path of Exile community remains instrumental in shaping the game’s ongoing development trajectory.
Action Checklist
- Prepare leveling build optimized for area clearing and monster mod benefits
- Clear inventory space for new character creation before November 7
- Research hourly mod rotation patterns for efficient reward farming
- Coordinate with guild members for group play during optimal mod rotations
- Monitor character selection screen 30 minutes before event start for early access
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