Path of Exile 2's game director, Jonathan Rogers, recently shared insights on the future development of the game, specifically addressing the introduction of new classes. In a detailed Q&A session, Rogers outlined the reasons behind the shift in focus and provided updates 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
Rogers emphasized that players should not anticipate new classes with each upcoming patch due to the unpredictability of their development cycle. He reflected on past experiences, stating, "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 focus on the Huntress for the next patch led to constant 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." He expressed a preference for fixed release dates over promising new classes, indicating that future class releases would be less predictable.
Rogers highlighted the importance of delivering timely updates to the community, saying, "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." To meet these expectations, the team will prioritize releasing additional Ascendancies in every patch. Furthermore, Rogers expressed enthusiasm about adding more classes even after the Early Access period ends.
Path of Exile 2 Dawn of the Hunt Brings More Changes to Endgame
Promising the End to Be A Lot Harder
The upcoming patch, Dawn of the Hunt, introduces over 100 new skills, support gems, and unique gear tailored for the midgame and endgame. Rogers assured that these changes aim to make bosses significantly harder. He explained the need to extend the time before players reach peak power levels, stating, "There are certainly some things that are going to have to be nerfed because they’re completely trivializing certain mechanics."
Rogers was particularly disappointed with how quickly players defeated Pinnacle Bosses, envisioning a more challenging experience. He hopes the new progression and balance changes will ensure a more satisfying experience, where players can eventually achieve high power levels but not immediately. "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.
Path of Exile 2 Game Director is Happy With Its "Ruthless" Difficulty
Things Aren’t Easier, You Just Got Better
Regarding the campaign's difficulty, Rogers expressed satisfaction with its current state. He acknowledged varying player opinions but noted that many complaints stemmed from comparisons with the previous game. Rogers believes that as players become more familiar with Path of Exile 2, the perceived difficulty will decrease. He stated, "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 mistakenly attribute changes in difficulty to balance adjustments when, in fact, their own improvement plays a significant role. "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," he concluded.
