Settlers of Kalguur introduces a new town-building system wherein players assist in constructing Kingsmarch (a future location in Path of Exile 2). They can locate resources and assign workers to harvest them, open trade routes, and defend the town from attacks.

Then there are all the other new features like the melee combat overhaul, Gladiator rework (complete with new skills to encourage building into blocking) and the Warden Ascendancy. This is in addition to improvements for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players, new encounters in Tier 16 and 17 maps, and much more.

Unfortunately, the new Currency Exchange Market is exclusive to Settlers of Kalguur, though the developer is interested in how it fares (and its potential for the future). Stay tuned for updates in the meantime.

In a new video, game director Mark Roberts outlines several features while clarifying that it’s only available in Settlers of Kalguur Challenge Leagues, not Standard (Solo Self-Found players also can’t access). Faustus, the vendor, can be invited to your Hideout, meaning you don’t have to keep visiting Kingsmarch.

Upon opening the trade menu, a tab at the top indicates popular currency (the twelve items with the highest trade volume). Hovering over the ratio showcases all the best options available. However, Gold is mandatory for trading. It’s obtained while playing through the Settlers of Kalguur leagues and balanced for mid-game. You won’t be using trade in the early game, but Roberts notes that earning Gold becomes “trivial” in the end game.

There’s also a limit to the number of exchanges one can have. Currently capped at ten, it’s shared across all leagues (with the developer looking to experiment with the same). Exchanges can be partially filled, but you can close them whenever, though the Gold cost won’t be refunded.

After an exchange, a notification appears above the Mana bar. If you’re offline, then after logging in, Faustus will have an alert above his head in the Hideout for completed exchanges. Though it won’t be available in Standard Leagues, the developer is “excited” to see if the Currency Exchange Market fares in Settlers of Kalguur and “figure out” if it has a place in future leagues.

Path of Exile: Settlers of Kalguur will be available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4, and PC. Check out further details, including the Gladiator rework and Warden Ascendancy, here.

Meanwhile, the Raider Ascendancy is out, and Warden is in, offering benefits from Affliction’s Tinctures (now available as a core item). Barkskin reduces physical damage, and you can also specialize in different elemental effects. Melee combat is also getting a long-overdue rework, with improved critical strike chance on weapons, new endgame base types, and changes to block, Rage, skills, and much more.

You can also expect new Chisel types, increased drop rate for Valdo’s Puzzle Boxes, a sixth slot in the Map Device, new Tier 16 and 17 map encounters and the return of Affliction. There are also improvements to the game’s console versions, like reduced pop-in and loading times.

PS5 and Xbox Series X/S will also benefit from better dynamic resolution thanks to a “new upscaling solution” and additional anti-aliasing. Resolution textures and water effects are also the “highest available.”

Launching on July 26th, Path of Exile: Settlers of Kalguur will go live for consoles and PC at 1 PM PDT.

With the help of new and familiar characters (including Dannig, Rog, Tujen and Gwennen from Expedition), players will seek out Crimson Iron, Orichalcum, Petrified Amber, and more materials. Each has unique challenges, like “very powerful foes” guarding Verisium. You’ll hire workers for many purposes, from smelting and farming to mining the materials. It’s also possible to hire some fighters to run maps for you in the endgame, courtesy of Isla from Heist.

After establishing a Harbour, you can have trade routes and earn various rewards. Players can also task Dannig with enchanting their weapons with runes. Isla can also combine items, similar to Sentinel’s recombination, for powerful results. Of course, new bosses will threaten Kingsmarch in the endgame, and you can decide whether to fight or pay ransom.

Path of Exile: Settlers of Kalguur launches on July 26th for consoles and PC. Stay tuned for more details on its changes and new features.

Very little is revealed, save for Faustus appearing on the Rogue Harbour to greet a charismatic captain. However, players won’t have to wait long for new details – a live reveal on Twitch is set for July 18th, 1 PM PDT. The livestream will outline the expansion and the new League alongside other content, with Grinding Gear Games’ Mark Roberts appearing in a live Q&A with ZiggyD afterwards.

Path of Exile: Settlers of Kalguur launches on July 25th for Xbox, PlayStation and PC. At the very least, players can expect balance changes, a new League mechanic and rewards, and additions to the endgame current systems. It’s also possible there are some updates on Path of Exile 2, which enters early access later this year for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. Stay tuned in the meantime.