Path of Exile 2 enthusiasts, brace yourselves for a shift in the game's update strategy! In a recent Q&A session, Game Director Jonathan Rogers shared that new classes won't be the focal point of future patches. This decision stems from the unpredictable nature of class development and the desire to deliver timely updates to eager players.
Expect More Ascendancies Instead
Rogers highlighted the challenges of integrating new classes into patches. He noted, 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 development of the Huntress class, for instance, caused significant delays due to the need to shift release dates constantly to accommodate the class's inclusion.
To avoid similar issues, Rogers emphasized the importance of fixed release dates over promising new classes with each patch. While I’m very keen to have a class in the next expansion, I’m not going to promise that because that would mean we can’t fix the date anymore,
he explained. The focus will now be on delivering regular updates and progress, which players crave more than sporadic class introductions.
However, fans of new content need not despair. Rogers assured that every patch will introduce new Ascendancies, and he remains enthusiastic about adding more classes post-Early Access. As I said, Ascendancies, we can definitely do; maybe even after release, we continue to add even more classes as I’m certainly keen to add more,
he stated.
Dawn of the Hunt Brings More Changes to Endgame
Alongside these changes, the upcoming Dawn of the Hunt patch will introduce over 100 new skills, support gems, and unique gear tailored for the midgame and endgame. Grinding Gear Games (GGG) is promising a significant increase in boss difficulty. Rogers mentioned the need to extend the time it takes for players to reach overpowering levels, ensuring a more challenging endgame experience.
He expressed disappointment at how quickly players were defeating Pinnacle Bosses, with some achieving victories in mere seconds. Rogers envisions a tougher initial encounter with these bosses, saying, 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.
The balance changes aim to make the journey to becoming overwhelmingly powerful slower and more rewarding.
Satisfied With the Ruthless
Difficulty
Regarding the campaign's difficulty, Rogers is content with the current "Ruthless" setting. He believes that player perceptions will evolve as they become more familiar with the game. Many initial complaints, he noted, came from players accustomed to the previous game's mechanics. Rogers is confident that as players improve their skills, the game will feel more manageable. 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,
he stated, optimistic about the community's future feedback.
