Here’s the Path of Exile 2 detail blowout we’ve been waiting for since 2019.
In 2019, Grinding Gear Games gave us our first look at Path of Exile 2, and with the exception of a couple of small teasers, we’ve heard almost nothing about it since then. It was supposed to be a sequel akin to Overwatch 2—originally not really a new game per se, but more like a giant patch or remaster that would update the game with new graphics, content, and systems.
At ExileCon this year, all that got blown up. Path of Exile 2 is a separate game, and it’s a true sequel set 20 years after the original. I for one can’t wait. We learned a ton about GGG’s new baby during the keynote presentation, so let’s get into it.Two games, one Path
The story of Path of Exile 2 is one of scope creep. It all started with a desire to update some ancient (2007ish) character models. Then, as game director Jonathan Rogers described it, it became a series of fun projects. ‚Why don’t we update the models‘ became ‚Why don’t we update Act 1‘ became ‚Why don’t we fix the way skill gems work‘ became ‚Aww screw it let’s make a new game.‘
„We realized that our plan to replace PoE 1 with PoE 2 would essentially be destroying a game that people love for no reason, so we made a decision,“ Rogers said in the keynote. „Path of Exile 1 and 2 will be separate, with their own mechanics, balance, endgame, and leagues.“
What this means for us as players is essentially twice the Path of Exile. Both games will run concurrently, with a league each every three months (a new league every month and a half for sickos like me who will almost certainly play both). Rest assured, however, that your beloved stash tabs and Righteous Fire skins won’t be going to waste. Your impossible to craft legacy six-links in Standard won’t be retconned to have funny new gem links, and anything you purchase in the future will be usable in both games (unless it’s something like a shapeshifting werebear skin, ‚cause that’s not in PoE 1).
Oh yes, my friends, we’re gonna be shapeshifting. Here’s a quick (and almost certainly incomplete) list of new features for Path of Exile 2.
Six new character classes, along with the six from PoE 1 for 12 total (Sorceress, Monk, Huntress, Mercenary, Warrior, Druid)
New ascendancies, with three for each class
A revamped skill gem system where the links are in the gems themselves, not tied to equipment
Tons of new skills, including shapeshifting (bear, wolf, cat) and giant comets
Meta gems, which are gems that can have other gems socketed into them (think things like cast on crit or spell totem)
New weapon types, like spear and crossbow that have their own skills
A six act story campaign set 20 years after the death of Kitava
A new map-based endgame
A dodge roll for everyone that doesn’t require a gem link, with the ability to dodge-cancel abilities
Changes to crafting and the economy, including changes to the way chaos orbs work and the introduction of gold as a currency
Over 100 new bosses to battle, each with unique mechanicsAll systems nominal
So there’s… a lot there.
