For many, Path of Exile is probably the prime example of what good free-to-play looks like. However, those who want to play Part 2 will have to pay first.
How does free-to-play work in Path of Exile? Path of Exile has always been funded solely through player purchases. The game has received continuous free updates since its release in October 2013, introducing new features regularly. Those who wanted to could play the game since its release without spending a single cent.
However, Path of Exile offers many cosmetic items for purchase in its shop. Additionally, players can buy some things that make their lives easier, such as additional storage tabs. Mainly, however, a variety of skins, animations, or items like a music player in their base are sold.
The trading in Path of Exile does not operate through an auction house, where the developers take a “cut”, as is the case in MMORPGs like Throne and Liberty.
Once purchased, the microtransactions apply to the entire account and can be switched between characters. Thus, Path of Exile only receives money when players consciously decide to buy something.
Here you can see how bosses are created in Path of Exile 2:
Path of Exile 2 will also be free, but not immediately
How does it work in Path of Exile 2? The successor of the free-to-play game will also be free, but there is a catch. When Path of Exile 2 starts in Early Access on Steam, PS5, and XBOX in December, the game will cost $30. The developers recently wrote this on X.com.
Since prices for video games are usually not simply converted one-to-one, it can be assumed that we can expect a price of around €30 in Europe.
The price only applies during the “Early Access” period of the game. However, how long this will last is still unknown. Exact information could be clarified on November 21, 2024. On that day, the developers will hold a livestream at 21:00 on Twitch. So, those who want to play Path of Exile 2 completely free will have to be patient.
How does the community react to the price? The community has mixed feelings on the topic. Users like @FervorGamingYT find the price on X.com to be good: “Oh, as I thought, that’s a pretty good price point. It’s low enough that I think new players will be willing to jump in!”
dignity also finds the price in the comments of our article on the game to be okay: “I can hardly think of fairer F2P games, I consider GGG [editor’s note: developer of Path of Exile] to be relatively honorable, whether they label it as EA or supporter pack or both – I trust that they will deliver…”
However, there are also opposing voices. Steve is dissatisfied with the price in the comments of the same article: “Idiotic! Why should I pay for helping the developer make their game better? How absolutely brain-dead is that? […] They should actually be paying me as a player for ‘testing’ their unfinished product, because that’s all it is, with Early Access.”
The user @bobdole25875848 also criticizes the price on X.com: “$30 for less than half a game. No, thanks. If the estimates are correct and the game is released next year around May, that’s a huge letdown. […]”
As long as it is not precisely known which contents will already be available in Early Access of Path of Exile 2, it is difficult to form an opinion. Until we know more, however, you can find an overview of all important information about the game with us: Path of Exile 2: All info about the release on Steam, PS5 and XBOX – Early Access, system requirements, Steam Deck
