Playing as one of six character classes, players find themselves banished for their past misdeeds to the dark fantasy world of Wraeclast. There, they will encounter hundreds of species of opponents laden with loot and mysterious artifacts as they explore the abandoned continent.

Players will be able to purchase in-game perks, such as extra victory animations, clothing and special effects. To protect the integrity of the game for all players, Grinding Gear Games has decided not to sell abilities or experience points – ensuring a level-playing field for everyone in game.

With an open-ended and flexible skill and item system, randomised items and random dungeons, the game promises three acts of visceral combat gameplay, with additional expansions already planned.

An ancient entity known as The Elder has challenged the Shaper's control of the Atlas of Worlds. Explore maps ravaged by their conflict.

As The Elder grows more powerful, he will consume The Shaper's creations to manifest his own Guardians. The stronger the consumed boss, the stronger The Elder is when you face him.

The Atlas has been redrawn. Find your way to the centre through new paths and discover new challenges along the way. War for the Atlas adds 32 maps to Path of Exile's ever-evolving end-game.

As you fight in maps the Shaper or Elder control, you may find rare Shaped and Elder items which can be crafted to have powerful properties that don't normally occur.

This expansion introduces ten new Gems including four new Skill Gems and six new Supports. The new skills have a focus on necromancy, while the support gems are designed to augment as many skills as possible in new and interesting ways.

Path of Exile: War for the Atlas contains over fifty new Unique Items, many of which have been designed by our community.

We're also launching a new set of Supporter Packs alongside War for the Atlas. They feature the four exclusive armour sets worn by the Elder Guardians, as well as new weapon effects, portals, forum titles, portrait frames, t-shirts and microfibre cloth maps featuring the new Atlas.

Path of Exile: War for the Atlas launches on December 8 (Pacific Time) on PC and shortly after on Xbox One. Alongside the expansion, we're also introducing the Abyss Challenge League. Fight foes that spill forth from the underworld beneath your feet as you journey across Wraeclast. Claim valuable new Abyss Jewels to customize your characters and items in new ways. We'll post detailed information about how the Abyss Challenge League works next week.

Key Features:

• Download and play for free, but never pay-to-win
• A dark and deep action RPG
• Unlimited character combinations with the game's gigantic skill tree
• Combine skill gems to create unique combat strategies
• Explore a dark and gritty world rendered from a fixed 3D perspective
• Explore randomly generated levels for nearly infinite replayability
• Craft weapons, magic items, and even end-game maps to
  become more powerful
• Cooperate or compete with thousands of other Exiles in a
  persistent online world
• Ascend online ladders in every game mode