The new Path of Exile 2 Druid class is about to transform the ARPG, and you can try it for free

Of all the Path of Exile 2 updates so far, few if any can hold a candle to the promise of the Druid. The transforming tyrant has been top of most of our PoE 2 wishlists since it was first mentioned. Developer Grinding Gear Games has been up-front about it being one of the most difficult Path of Exile 2 classes to get right, so the fact that it's finally here is truly a holiday gift. If you're interested but haven't yet picked the action RPG up, there's extra good news in the form of a free weekend for the launch.

The new season is Path of Exile 2: The Last of the Druids. While the game's latest class is a big part of the draw, there's certain to be plenty more on the cards; anyone familiar with GGG updates will know to expect a pretty bulky list. We'll obviously get a set of new skills for the Druid, but I'm confident we'll see a few designed for other classes as well. Those will be complemented with a selection of new support gems and unique items, and probably a fresh overhaul to the notorious passive tree as well.

A new league mechanic is almost certainly on the table; game director Mark Roberts said during the previous launch that GGG was eager to have a new system in place for each expansion so that "each area feels different with something extra going on." But what else can we expect? There's a chance we'll get to dive into the fifth act of the six planned for the main campaign, see one or more new endgame bosses and 'uber' encounters, or see further adjustments to how the Atlas map works. Of course, there will be lots of quality-of-life improvements too; GGG has long shown incredible consistency in that regard.

The unveiling of the expansion will happen on Thursday December 4 at 11am PT / 2pm ET / 7pm GMT / 8pm CET, and game director Jonathan Rogers has some good news for anyone who's been holding off. A Path of Exile 2 free weekend will be running alongside the start of the league, meaning you can jump in and play alongside everyone else. If you have a clear schedule, that should be enough time to at least see the full campaign through. Even if you don't, any progress you made will be saved on your account and can be picked back up if you buy a copy later.

Path of Exile 2: The Last of the Druids launches Friday December 12 at 11am PT / 2pm ET / 7pm GMT / 8pm CET. A free weekend begins at the same time, and will run until Monday December 15 at 11am PT / 2pm ET / 7pm GMT / 8pm CET. You'll be able to play for free here on Steam, and any progress made will carry over to the full game if you buy it.