Content Update 2.5.2 is currently scheduled for release later this week! The primary goal of this patch is to introduce the additional Performance Improvements we announced last week. It also includes a small number of bug fixes and new 3D item art! While they are still subject to change closer to the release of the update, we're making the patch notes available for you to peruse in the meantime.

• Parallelised the rendering of the DirectX 11 client. This allows multi-threading for scene rendering, improving performance. This is only enabled if your graphics card and driver supports Constant Buffer Offsets.
• These gains only improve performance if you were previously bottlenecked by the speed of your CPU (rather than graphics card).
• Added 3D art for Abberath's Hooves.
• Fixed an issue with audio for ground tar that could prevent other audio from playing.
• Improved the popups for skills that give spell damage over time.
• Fixed a bug where the bodyguard from the Sextant mod "Unique Bosses are accompanied by Bodyguards" used a Rallying Cry skill that incorrectly tripled a boss' damage.
• Fixed a bug where items with built-in triggered skills could have that skill detached from the item with support gems such as Spell Totem and be cast continuously without the trigger condition.
• Fixed a bug where Flame Bearers and Void Bearers would sometimes not stop casting their flamebreath.
• Fixed a bug where the "Monsters cannot be slowed below base speed" map mod could cause Strongbox trap mods to go off immediately, rather than after a delay.
• Fixed two instance crashes.

By the way, we originally planned to reveal the winners of the Path of Exile Talent Competition that ended yesterday. However, we have received such an immense number of excellent and worthy submissions that we are still in the process of assessing them all. We're on track to announce the winners tomorrow. We apologise for the delay.