Path of Exile 2 — Network Spikes After Patch (0.3)

Region/Gateway: Canada / Washington DC (tested multiple)
System Specs:

AMD Ryzen 5 7600X

32 GB DDR5 (6000 MHz)

NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti FE

Windows 11 (64-bit)

Wired Ethernet (Bell ISP, Canada)

Issue Description

Since the most recent 0.3 patch, I’ve been experiencing severe and consistent network latency spikes in Path of Exile 2.

Before the patch → game was smooth on Canada East (Toronto).

After the patch → frequent latency spikes shown on the in-game F1 graph, causing rubberbanding/freezes.

FPS is stable (120–140), CPU/GPU temps are normal, no local performance issues.

Troubleshooting Performed

✅ Tested on both Canada and Washington DC gateways → spikes persist on both.

✅ Switched Networking Mode (Lockstep ↔ Predictive).

✅ Lowered graphics to minimum → FPS increases, but latency spikes remain.

✅ Disabled V-Sync, used Fullscreen, tested Vulkan vs DX12.

✅ Disabled Antivirus/Web protection during test.

✅ Tried via VPN (New York/DC exit) → spikes still present.

✅ Local pings (router, 1.1.1.1, 9.9.9.9) are stable.

✅ System resources checked → no CPU/GPU bottleneck, temps ~70 °C.

Conclusion

This does not appear to be a hardware or local network issue. Since VPN routing does not bypass the spikes, it suggests the problem is upstream from multiple ISPs or within GGG’s server infrastructure after the recent patch.

Request

Can GGG confirm if there are known issues with the Canada East and Washington DC gateways since patch 0.3?

Any workarounds or recommended testing beyond what’s been done?

Screenshots of F1 latency graph (spikes) and Resource Monitor logs available on request.

exact same issue with me and a buddy im playing with. it makes the game unplayable. im constantly stuttering and freezing. followed all the steps to rectify to no avail.

Edit: was also playing as soon as update launched with zero issues. made it to act 2 boss last night everything was smooth until patch was downloaded.

I also have the same issue since today. i'm in Europe and i'm alos experiencing server lag.
I try to look the metrics and it seems that we have Network Spikes.

Yet, i played yesterday at laucnh, for maybe an hour, and not experiencing the network lag.

I also have the same issue, tried Canada East, Washington, same lags, freezes, unplayable.


The Network spikes and ingame, it's freezing and die most of the time because that.

I experience the same problem as in the thread.

It sucks because it's unplayable.

Same in Europe, every 30-60 minutes there is huge latency spike or just complete 5-30 second lag/freeze, and then it unfreezes you back into game, but overlaymap is gone unexplored again.

Happens probably every second map ... on my side, network and internet is all fine, so it must be again, as it was in 0.2 league, the server issue or something... probably ddos attacks again? Or just a massive number of players that servers cant withstand.
I hope this is gonna be fixed ASAP because noone wants to randomly die and loose a whole map just for server issue...

It would be great addition, where if you play your maps solo, it sets you into offline status, so there wouldnt be more latency issues. I am not technical expert, but thats just my idea.

Try join a global server like 40999 and also do that with your trade chat.

after you joined clear history this might help sometimes..

Same problem on Europe servers
I tested everything i can, i change every settings, render and upscale, clear cache, change chat servers, reinstall video drivers by DDU, even fully reinstall the system but when i see abyss or open breach i got network spikes and sometimes it's go up to 1000. Cpu and gpu stay normal and FPS still 60-100 when full screen of mobs, only networks spikes but these spikes just stuttering the game, when i press Esc, char still running and attacking only pausing after 2 seconds.

Any other game works fine to me: raids\guild wars in MMOs and other ARPGs works perfect, in poe2 i have this network spiking issues, btw i have fiber optic ethernet cable with 100 Mbit\s tariff. In 0.1 and 0.2 i doesn't have this issue.

The game is unplayable right now, I faced no issues while completing campaign and all of a sudden my ping goes to 5000, which means actions such as Escape button are only registered after ping returns to normal, at which point I usually die.

I checked my ping different public servers over a few hours and the highest spike I saw was around 23ms.

Other things I've done:
- set audio channels to low
- set graphics settings to low
- set processor affinity
- tested multiple EU server

I noticed that the spikes are significantly worse during the day, I played today at 02:00 CEST and the spikes were still occurring albeit they were very short, while now I lose control over my character for 5-6 seconds which causes me to die almost every time. I can't even level my character :)

Link to WinMTR output:
https://pastebin.com/jXku39ga

Same issue, when pressing F1 it is clearly the network bar that's spiking. Some instances I run the game perfectly fine, the next map or zone everything goes to hell. I am connected to ethernet and have a NVIDIA gpu. GGG Please help and fix the game.

Same here im from croatia i tryed every freaking thing from reducing graphic settings to restarting my freaking router thinking its my internet, changing the servers in game nothing helps.
I got ryzen 9 5900x
rx 6800 xt red devil
32 gb ram
nvme 1tb aorus
and its only happening in poe 2!!
When i watched fps it drops from 140 to 120 most but the game has so much spikes after midnight it calms but during peak hours its unplayable.
My skills wont work at all some times they dont activate at all etc....

GGG FIX THIS SHIT!!!