Path of Exile 2 has recently experienced a massive boost in popularity on Steam, reaching nearly 30 times more simultaneous players than usual. The hit action role-playing game from Grinding Gear Games drew huge attention during the latest weekend thanks to a mix of smart timing, a free-to-play trial, and its newest expansion.
When Path of Exile 2 launched in early access in December 2024, it peaked at an impressive 578,569 concurrent players on Steam. Over time, however, those numbers steadily declined to around 10,000–15,000 concurrent players. But on August 31, 2025, the game roared back to life with over 353,000 simultaneous players, according to SteamDB. This marks the sequel’s largest peak since its original early access debut.
Why the Sudden Spike?
The biggest factor was Grinding Gear Games’ decision to make Path of Exile 2 free-to-play for a limited weekend. Normally, access to the game requires purchasing at least a $30 support pack, unlike its predecessor which has always been fully free-to-play. The temporary free weekend invited a flood of curious gamers to try the sequel for themselves.
At the same time, the release of the Third Edict update (version 0.3) added substantial new content. Players gained access to Act 4 of the campaign, set in the Karui archipelago of Ngamakanui, along with new bosses and areas. The expansion also introduced 25 new endgame maps, fresh encounters, major class buffs, revamped crafting systems, and other balance changes—giving both new and veteran players plenty of reasons to jump back in.
Looking Ahead
While the surge was impressive, it’s expected that player numbers will decline once the free weekend ends. Still, the spike shows that Path of Exile 2 can generate massive interest when given the right push. Meanwhile, the original Path of Exile remains strong, with updates like Secrets of the Atlas earlier this year driving its own peak of nearly 180,000 concurrent players.
With the path to version 1.0 still underway, Path of Exile 2 has proven it has the potential to stand alongside its predecessor as a major ARPG success story.