In an interview, a developer speaks about what Diablo 4 has taught him in Path of Exile 2. Path of Exile 2 relies less on cooldowns, more on action, and a touch of hardcore – Elden Ring is a role model here.
What kind of game is this? Path of Exile 2 is an upcoming hack and slash title from Grinding Gear Games and features a complex skill tree. It is a direct competitor to the action RPG Diablo 4.
In Path of Exile 2, they want to focus more on action and less on cooldowns. According to developer Jonathan Rogers, the main focus is that players never lose control of their character.
The developers focus on an extensive beta and challenging bosses
What have they learned from Diablo 4? The approach of Diablo 4 has been great, Jonathan Rogers states in an interview with IGN. However, that is not “his thing.” He prefers more action and fewer cooldowns. Players should decide which ability is best and never lose control over their characters (via ign.com).
Rogers feels bad when thinking about the harsh criticism that the developers of Diablo 4 have received. He is sure, “that they mean well, but yes, it’s a tough lesson to learn.” The developers of Path of Exile 2 focus on an extensive beta:
I think that you have to get the balance right at launch, because once you have something a certain way, players are very resistant to change, especially in a negative direction. That’s why we really need to ensure that we have a good beta that tells us everything we need to know about it.
The beta is supposed to cover the entire game, not just the first act, and it should run for months. “Because it actually takes a while for people to realize what the most efficient things are and what they should do,” Rogers says. The closed beta will start according to the website on June 7, 2024.
The battles are supposed to be much more difficult than before, as Game Director Jonathan Rogers from Path of Exile 2 has told us in conversation.
“Path of Exile 2 is more complex in many ways”
Why Elden Ring is a role model: Path of Exile 2 is supposed to be more action-packed but also have hardcore elements and “go more toward Elden Ring.” The game focuses on “excellent bosses.” Players are supposed to fight against a few rare monsters at once, which are both more challenging and rewarding (via ign.com).
According to Jonathan Rogers, Path of Exile 2 is more complex in many ways. He adds: “But I think that’s something a lot of players are looking for, and you can do an enormous amount of experimentation with character classes and builds in our game. It will keep you engaged for a long time.”
The weapon switching will also be revamped. The player can equip 2 weapons, both of which will be shown on the character. Each ability can be assigned a weapon. When a skill is used, it will automatically switch to the corresponding weapon. This excites even the critical Twitch streamer Asmongold:
