"Path of Exile 2 Devs Discuss Endgame Challenge"

Summary

• The Path of Exile 2 developers are defending the challenging endgame, despite player concerns.
• Co-director Jonathan Rogers stated, "...if you’re dying all the time then you’re probably not ready to keep going up the power curve."
• Players navigate through the intricate Atlas of Worlds in the endgame, facing advanced challenges and bosses.

Path of Exile 2 co-directors Mark Roberts and Jonathan Rogers have addressed concerns from fans regarding the game's demanding endgame difficulty. As a sequel to the 2013 original, Path of Exile 2 introduces a new skill system featuring 240 active skill gems and 12 character classes. After completing the six-act story, players can tackle the brutal 100 endgame maps.

Since its early access launch in December 2024, the isometric action RPG has attracted a robust player base. This year, fans can look forward to significant quality-of-life enhancements while awaiting the full release. The first update of 2025, Patch 0.1.0, targets bugs and crashes, especially on the PlayStation 5, and improves gameplay by addressing issues with monsters, skills, and damage.

In an exclusive interview with content creators Darth Microtransaction and GhazzyTV, Roberts and Rogers discussed the upcoming Patch 0.1.1 and defended the endgame's difficulty. They emphasized the importance of failure in gameplay, stating, “The whole ‘death actually mattering’ thing is actually important. You have to have some level of failure being possible,” and noted that the experience would not be the same if the design reverted to a one-portal system. Path of Exile 2 players have previously voiced their concerns about the endgame, which features demanding player builds and fast monsters, making strategic encounters a significant challenge.

Path of Exile 2 Devs Defend Endgame's Difficulty

Regarding the loss of EXP during an Atlas run, Rogers explained, “It’s keeping you in the place where you’re supposed to be, as in if you’re dying all the time then you’re probably not ready to keep going up the power curve.” However, the team at Grinding Gear Games is evaluating the various elements that contribute to the endgame's difficulty to ensure players have the most authentic experience possible. There are numerous advanced tips available to help players navigate Path of Exile 2’s endgame, including conquering high-Waystone Tier maps, salvaging Quality gear, and using portals strategically, yet fans continue to struggle with the challenge.

Path of Exile 2’s endgame content unfolds in the Atlas of Worlds, where players progress by unlocking various maps and defeating the Beasts that inhabit them. Access to the Atlas is granted upon completing the main campaign on Cruel Difficulty. Each interconnected world within the Atlas presents high-level challenges tailored for advanced, dedicated players, featuring formidable bosses, complex maps, and the need to optimize robust builds through gear and skill enhancements.