In Path of Exile 2 players currently fear losing many of their peers to a different version. This could pose a problem, especially when trading.
What is this different version? The developers of Path of Exile 2 have spoken about the release in China. So far, Path of Exile 2 is not available there, and many players from the second most populous country are still playing through workarounds on the western servers.
According to a report from Sportskeeda.com, the developers are currently working on the release in China. Many fans now believe that there is a second version, similar to what happened with Path of Exile (1). A corresponding app is already available in the Chinese Steam (via SteamDB).
Fans are now worried that the game’s population could be divided.
Here you can watch the trailer for the current season of Path of Exile:
New version could split the player base
What is the new version about? According to Jonathan Rogers, there will be a Chinese version for Path of Exile in 2025 (via nfnews.com). Although the developers of Path of Exile 2 have not yet announced any details about a version for the Chinese region, fans are concerned about a split.
On Reddit, players are currently discussing that the Chinese are perceived as a large faction in terms of trade and economy. If a separate version is released for them, Chinese players might leave the western servers.
The assumption of western players is that a separate version for China with different features would not be compatible with the western server, resulting in a divided player base. Although this has not yet been confirmed by Grinding Gear Games, players suggest that this is also the case in Path of Exile (1).
What concerns do players have? Players of Path of Exile are very concerned, especially regarding trading in the game. They are sharing the following comments on Reddit:
- GuthukYoutube says on Reddit: “I’ve often jokingly thought: ‘Thank God it’s a Chinese trader’ so I can do it quickly and easily in a minute.”
- LuckyOneTime is annoyed on Reddit: “All the polite traders are going away.”
- StalksYouEverywhere shares his thoughts on Reddit: “I would say that Chinese players account for a solid 50% of my total trades after more than a month and a half in a league, despite the language barrier. Honestly, apart from a few exceptions, they are also the most polite when it comes to trading; they invite quickly and trade fast. They help with both the supply and demand of many items, increasing liquidity and interaction on the server, and without them, the economy in the game would slow down significantly, as it would be harder to sell and buy things if a very large percentage of the player base leaves the game.”
That players of Path of Exile like their Chinese counterparts is probably a rarity in gaming, as ShuriccanGG finds on Reddit: “I never thought I would see a ‘doom post’ about Chinese players leaving.”
How the Chinese version of Path of Exile will look and whether trading with the west will be blocked is still completely uncertain. It remains to be seen whether the players’ fears will become reality. New competition for Path of Exile is coming from within: Former head of Path of Exile now has his own studio, fans believe he is developing the new competitor
