PoE2 Future Updates to Shift Focus from New Classes

Path of Exile 2's game director has shared insights into the game's future development, particularly regarding the introduction of new classes. In this article, we delve into the reasons behind their decision and explore their thoughts on the current state of the game.

Path of Exile 2 New Characters Might Not Be Introduced Every Patch

You Can Expect More Ascendancies Instead

During a recent Q&A session, Path of Exile 2 Game Director Jonathan Rogers discussed the development strategy for future updates. He emphasized that players should not expect new classes in every upcoming patch due to the complexities and unpredictability of class development.

Rogers explained that while the team initially aimed to introduce a new class with each patch, they realized this approach was not sustainable. He stated, I would like it if every release would have a class, but I would say that we actually learned something during the production of this cycle, which is that it was a mistake to have a class as a wedge for the development of your expansion.

The decision to focus on the Huntress for the next patch led to significant delays, as Rogers noted, We have to have the Huntress in the next patch, so therefore, the date had to float, and that meant that this expansion ended up taking a lot longer than what we had hoped.

Rogers further elaborated that prioritizing a fixed release date over a guaranteed class introduction is more beneficial for the game's development. He mentioned, While I’m very keen to have a class in the next expansion, I’m not going to promise that because that would mean we can’t fix the date anymore.

Given the unpredictability of class development and the desire to provide timely updates, Rogers concluded that new classes should not be a primary focus for future patches. He said, Players really do want to see forward progress, and they don’t want to be waiting six to nine months before they see a big update. So I think it’s important that we’re constantly giving them stuff in a reasonably timely manner, so for that reason, the classes are less predictable.

However, Rogers reassured players that they can look forward to new Ascendancies with each patch. He also expressed his enthusiasm for adding more classes even after the Early Access period, stating, As I said, Ascendancies, we can definitely do; maybe even after release, we continue to add even more classes as I’m certainly keen to add more.

Path of Exile 2 Dawn of the Hunt Brings More Changes to Endgame

Promising the End to Be A Lot Harder

Alongside the Huntress, the upcoming patch will introduce over 100 new skills, support gems, and unique gear focused on enhancing the midgame and endgame experiences. A key aspect of these changes is the increased difficulty of bosses, as Grinding Gear Games (GGG) aims to prolong the time it takes for players to reach overpowering levels.

Rogers highlighted the need for balance adjustments, saying, There are certainly some things that are going to have to be nerfed because they’re completely trivializing certain mechanics. People are getting [to] the point of complete outrageousness a little bit too early. He emphasized that while players should eventually reach high power levels, this should happen after a significant progression, not at the beginning of their journey.

Rogers expressed disappointment over how quickly players defeated Pinnacle Bosses in the past, describing his ideal scenario where the first encounter with a Pinnacle Boss should be a challenging and memorable fight. He hopes the new progression and balance changes will ensure a more satisfying experience, stating, The first time you fight a Pinnacle Boss, it’s going to be a hard fight and crazy. But as you fight the boss more times and you get more items and you get to optimize your build and stuff, you can get to the point where you kill the boss in fourteen seconds. It’s just that it’s not your first experience.

He concluded that the balance changes are focused on slowing down the power progression, saying, Things have kind of gotten a little bit off the rails, in terms of the ability to get power too easily there, and that’s kind of the main thing. You should always be able to feel powerful and certainly should have that fantasy there, just not right off the bat. So that’s where a lot of our balance changes are focused.

Path of Exile 2 Game Director is Happy With Its Ruthless Difficulty

Things Aren’t Easier, You Just Got Better

The difficulty of Path of Exile 2’s campaign has been a topic of discussion among players. Some found it too easy, while others felt it was too hard. Rogers expressed satisfaction with the current difficulty level and believes that player opinions will evolve over time.

He noted that many complaints stemmed from players comparing their experiences with the previous game without fully engaging with the new one. Rogers believes that as players become more familiar with the game, the difficulty will seem more manageable. He said, I don’t think we’re gonna get nearly as many complaints about it this time, and that’s because once you know how to play, you’re going to find the experience a lot easier.

Rogers also pointed out that players often perceive the game as easier upon replaying it, stating, People are often surprised. A lot of the times what happens is that the second time people play through the game, they will talk about how they (GGG) must have changed the balance, but the actual reality is that they just got better at the game.