Grinding Gear Games launches Path of Exile 3.30 Covens of Umbra on November 13

Grinding Gear Games launches Path of Exile version 3.30, subtitled Covens of Umbra, on November 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM Pacific Time for PC, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Epic Games. U4N reports that Grinding Gear Games set realm downtime for 9:00 AM PST on November 13, two hours before the league opens, and patching begins shortly after the realms go down. Players in Asia and Oceania enter on November 14 because the schedule follows Pacific Time; in Beijing and Singapore, the 11:00 AM PST launch is 3:00 AM on November 14. WorthPlaying reports that the update reaches PC, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Epic Games. U4N adds that standalone PC users may preload through the official GGPK Torrent, though copying the file into the game folder is barred until three hours before launch. Steam, Epic, and macOS players cannot use the torrent, and console players should check storage space before launch. PCGamesN and WorthPlaying report that Scarabs are out. Threads of Creation take their place for modifying endgame maps, dropping from ordinary loot so players no longer need to block unwanted events. PCGamesN and WorthPlaying report that players may use up to three Threads on a map. WorthPlaying adds that pumping each one up to eight threads raises difficulty, rewards, and odds of special modifiers, that adding more causes mechanics to combine in new ways, that thread configurations persist between Maps, that required items draw automatically from the stash, and that the Atlas questline grants up to three Map Device slots to guarantee primary league mechanics in a map. WorthPlaying reports that Grinding Gear Games completely rebuilt the Atlas Passive Tree with a new layout, dozens of passive clusters and modifiers, moving many bonuses once limited to costly Scarabs into the tree. New notables include True Terrors, which grants additional modifiers to Unique Monsters; Fate Bespoken, which lets Map Bosses steal Divination Cards with a chance to duplicate them on death; and Servants of the Well, which sums five additional Rare Monsters. The tree also adds Ghostflame Communion, House Supremacy, and By the Lanternlight. PCGamesN and WorthPlaying report that the league mechanic centers on fates. PCGamesN reports that players gather modifiers called fates from enemy drops across zones, then select as many as three at the area’s boss fight to shape the final encounter. WorthPlaying adds that Coven defeats grant strong Fates that turn boss fights into deadly trials for richer rewards, and Grim Fates taken from boosted bosses in high-level Atlas zones stay available between instances and target specific Pinnacle Bosses. PCGamesN adds that players who prefer not to engage can choose the standard league without the optional fates mechanic. WorthPlaying reports that defeated bosses feed the Wickerman, a wooden effigy where players bind souls and equip Viscera trophies in head, arm, body, and leg slots. Each Viscera grants unique bonuses such as increased Life, regeneration, or more potent poisons, and over 120 Visceras can be collected from campaign and Atlas bosses. PCGamesN and WorthPlaying report that Covens of Umbra adds more than two dozen fresh campaign bosses in zones that previously lacked one, and Grinding Gear Games shuffled boss positions so players will definitely encounter them. Players can claim one distinct Viscera from each campaign area and each endgame map. PCGamesN and WorthPlaying report that ground loot now yields much more worthwhile gear, and Magic and Rare items can drop with visible tiers that bring stronger modifiers, better base types, and possible extra sockets and links. WorthPlaying adds that at the highest item tiers, Simplex Amulets and Cord Belts can now be found in the core drop pool, and Tier 5 Magic items have a chance to drop as Fractured items. WorthPlaying also reports that Item Rarity was fundamentally overhauled so it now improves the chances of finding valuable currency, Divination Cards, Gems, and Unique items rather than only increasing item counts. PCGamesN reports that players can pass gear drops onto other players using an asynchronous trade system that lets them buy or sell items without directly messaging people. The Putrid Seed unique jewel accepts oil anointment to receive four selected passive skills from the iconic Path of Exile skill tree, then fits into a cluster jewel slot to duplicate those skills on the tree. Grinding Gear Games does not sell abilities or experience points to protect game integrity and ensure a level playing field, though players can purchase victory animations, clothing, and special effects. WorthPlaying reports that Blight encounters gain deadly Mycotic lanes offering greater rewards, empowered Blight Cores that summon new minibosses, and lanes that may become infested with Rogue Exiles. Ritual encounters may draw the Bodach, unleashing additional waves of enemies for greater rewards, while Ultimatum encounters may tempt players into doubling their rounds for even greater prizes. Runic Obelisks at Expedition sites can resurrect dead enemies to fight again. Beyond adds gateways to perilous demon realms and tougher boss fights, while Harvest starts with twisted roots players can modify before unleashing monsters into the area. In Incursion, Atziri takes over the Temple of Atzoatl, the expansion adds the Cradle of Creation to increase the Temple’s difficulty and rewards, and players gain new opportunities to corrupt previously corrupted items. Threads of Creation can enhance 10 primary league mechanics: Abyss, Blight, Legion, Breach, Incursion, Betrayal, Bestiary, Expedition, Ultimatum, and Ritual. Covens of Umbra serves as a warm-up and entry point for players preparing for Path of Exile 2, whose full 1.0 launch arrives on Friday, December 11. Path of Exile 1 stays free on Steam and the Grinding Gear Games standalone launcher, and purchased stash tabs or cosmetic microtransactions that also apply to Path of Exile 2 become available there when players begin the sequel. Studio Co-founder Jonathan Rogers said at Exilecon that a consistent, regular cycle exists between active players each league, and he is confident in supporting Path of Exile 1 alongside the sequel for a long time. U4N reports that Twitch Drops run November 13 through November 22: the Umbral Tentacle Slam Rare Finisher Effect requires three hours of eligible Path of Exile viewing, and the Umbral Portal Effect requires two eligible purchased or gifted subscriptions. Prime Subscriptions do not count toward the subscription reward, and watching three hours does not unlock the portal effect. Grinding Gear Games confirmed the cosmetics will eventually be available through the Microtransaction Store and will also be supported in Path of Exile 2 in the future. Maxroll reports that the Curse of the Allflame Challenge League ends at 1PM Pacific Time on November 9, and full 3.30 details arrive at ExileCon 2026 on November 7. Maxroll reports that Grinding Gear Games announced during the Q&A following the 3.29 livestream that version 3.30 would launch this year.