The initial major update for “Path of Exile 2,” dubbed “Dawn of the Hunt,” has encountered some serious turbulence. It hit the stage with quite a few bumps last Friday, leaving players scratching their heads as they found the game ridiculously tough. Tasks that would have been a breeze before, like defeating weak monsters, became frustrations taking far too long. The introduction of the new Huntress class wasn’t much to write home about either, and the gaming community on Reddit didn’t hold back, with threads like “This game feels like a massive waste of time” becoming commonplace. Even well-known streamers couldn’t handle it and decided to abandon the game mid-session.
Recognizing the uproar, Grinding Gear Games scrambled to release a series of minor updates to turn things around. They scaled back the health of the pesky monsters and strengthened some of the weaker skills such as skeletal minions. Yet, the changes have done little to shake the pervasive feeling among players that the game simply isn’t rewarding enough.
In an effort to address these widespread criticisms, Grinding Gear Games laid out their plans for future adjustments on the game’s website. They particularly intend to tackle the campaign’s sluggish pacing—a chore players must slog through with each new season. Although some tweaks have already been put into effect, players are still finding it tough to muster the enthusiasm needed to slog through to the endgame dungeons.
During a conversation with the streamer Zizaran on Tuesday, game director Johnathan Rogers openly admitted, “Our intention was to tweak elements that made the endgame too trivial before acquiring the proper gear.” Meanwhile, Mark Roberts, another game director, candidly acknowledged they’d made some glaring mistakes, singling out the underpowered skills that needed immediate correction. Roberts described the approach as having been somewhat hasty, with a mindset of “Let’s see how it plays out and adjust if needed.”
Rogers further explained that the overall aim for “Path of Exile 2” is narrower and more focused compared to its predecessor. This involves delivering a more engaging combat experience, which inherently makes it a challenge to hit the balance just right. Rogers notes that while “Path of Exile 1” rewards the dedication of players who’ve invested countless hours, their goal for the sequel is to reduce that barrier while still maintaining the kind of challenging, strategic combat found in a Soulslike game. It’s a tough balance to strike.
Both directors indicate they’re exploring ways to make the game less punishing, but they are cautious about overdoing it to prevent players from breezing through dungeons too quickly. They emphasize the importance of maintaining some level of challenge, with Rogers adding, “If we reach a point where a skilled player never encounters a challenge, the game could lose its long-term appeal.”
