PoE2: Future Updates to Shift Focus from New Classes

Path of Exile 2's game director has announced a shift in focus for future updates, moving away from introducing new classes with each major patch. Learn more about the rationale behind this decision and the current state of the game.

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

You Can Expect More Ascendancies Instead

In a recent Q&A session, Path of Exile 2 Game Director Jonathan Rogers explained that new classes won't be a staple of upcoming patches due to development uncertainties. When questioned about the expectation of a new class in every patch, Rogers 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."

He highlighted the trade-offs between fixed release dates and the amount of content, noting that focusing on the Huntress for the next patch led to multiple delays. "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 explained.

Rogers emphasized that fixed release dates are preferable, and thus, he won't commit to including new classes in future expansions. "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," he added.

Due to these development challenges, Rogers clarified that players should not expect new classes with every patch. The unpredictability of class development and the community's desire for timely updates drive this decision. "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," Rogers noted. "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 assured fans that new Ascendancies will be a feature of every upcoming patch. He also expressed his eagerness to introduce additional classes even after Early Access concludes. "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," Rogers stated.

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

Promising the End to Be A Lot Harder

The upcoming patch, alongside the Huntress, will introduce over 100 new skills, support gems, and unique gear tailored for midgame and endgame content. Grinding Gear Games (GGG) aims to make bosses significantly more challenging. Rogers mentioned the need to extend the time before a character's power level trivializes the endgame, while still allowing players to reach that level eventually.

"There are certainly some things that are going to have to be nerfed because they’re completely trivializing certain mechanics," Rogers explained. "People are getting [to] the point of complete outrageousness a little bit too early," he added. "I think that you need to be able to get to the point of outrageousness at some point, but you don’t want it to be that you get to that point before you even finish your initial climb."

Rogers expressed disappointment over how quickly players defeated Pinnacle Bosses, envisioning a scenario where the first encounter with a Pinnacle Boss should be a formidable challenge. "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," Rogers explained.

He concluded that the balance changes aim to slow down the progression to ultimate power. "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," Rogers said. "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 sparked debate among players. Some find it too easy, while others find it too hard. Rogers expressed satisfaction with the current difficulty level, anticipating that player perceptions will evolve over time. He noted that many complaints came from players who had played the previous game but not the current one, leading to comparative experiences.

Rogers believes that fewer complaints will arise this time, as players become more adept at the game. "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," he said. He added that if the difficulty remains an issue, they would have more data to make necessary adjustments, but he remains optimistic.

"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," Rogers concluded.