Path of Exile 2, the highly anticipated sequel to thePath of Exileaction RPG by Grinding Gear Games, was finally opened for early access on the 6th of December 2024. The new title was initially planned to be anexpansion ofPath of Exilefeaturing a different storyline with similar endings. However, the developer eventually decided against going down that route, believing it would be best to separate them into two unique entities with distinct systems and future expansions.
Before launch, there was generally good publicity surrounding the IP, mainly because they decided to share early access keys with players who had spent more than $480 on microtransactions in the decade-oldPath of Exile. Grinding Gear Games is also popular for being one of the most free-to-play friendly game developers, so naturally, it has built a dedicated fanbase. However, despite the carefully cultivated goodwill,Path of Exile 2’s early access release became controversial due to several server issues that frustrated many players.
Path of Exile 2 Has a Rocky Start to Navigate, Keeping Up with the Gaming Launch Trend
Recently, more games have been launched with inadequacies of some sort. From optimization issues to stutters and texture popping, titles likeCyberpunk 2077have experienced terrible launches but have turned them around. InPath of Exile 2’s case, the controversy behind its launchwas caused by inadequate server capacity.
Over a million players bought early access keys for thePath of Exile 2launch, and it’s safe to say Grinding Gear Games didn’t see such a heavy demand coming.
The developer had warned the player base to expect extended queue periods due to traffic, but it appears that was the least of their worries. Following the issue at launch, the officialPath of ExileX account created a Launch Day update thread to keep players postedabout the situation. The database needed upgrades to handle the number of people in the log-in queues, as the company recently switched to a new database shard system. This system operates by storing a large database in bits across many servers to allow numerous instances of user data access without overloading.
Due to this workaround, there were also instances where multiple characters had the same character ID, and players reported being lumped into parties with other random players. In addition to this “lumping”, any players who tried to redeem their Steam keys to join in on the fun couldn’t do so because thePath of Exilewebsite crashed.
Despite trying for hours on end to find a solution, players still experienced random server crashes. In the end, the developer resorted to restricting player log-ins. This approach granted players access to the game in batches to monitor the backend and ensure it stayed within capacity. Scathing reviews have been composed for much less, and the messy launch sent dissatisfied gamers on a tirade on Stream, tankingPath of Exile 2’s ratings.
Controversial Launch Aside, Path of Exile 2’s Early Access is Making Waves
While some gamers have taken to bashing the game, others are excited about its potential offerings.Grinding Gear Games implemented a Soulslike approach inPath of Exile 2’s design, and it appears - for now - that the move was a step in the right direction. According to some reviews, the game includes much better bosses than the original, equipped with incredible designs and move sets that make taking them down feel much more rewarding.
There are no difficulty options, and the maps have gotten much larger, reportedly taking about an hour to go from one side to the other. Additionally,Path of Exile 2features a controller option for ease of accessibility - a quality-of-life upgrade that should sit well with the consuming public. Although the game still has some ways to go to solve its server issues, there seems to be a lot to be excited about going forward.
Path of Exile II
WHERE TO PLAY
Path of Exile 2 is a next generation free-to-play Action RPG created by Grinding Gear Games. Journey across the deadly continent of Wraeclast, meeting multiple immersive cultures while facing off against evil in many forms. Path of Exile 2 features twelve character classes, 240 Skill Gems, hundreds of equipment base types, a six-act campaign, more than a hundred unique boss fights, a deep endgame system and so much more. Play with your friends without losing any progress with couch co-op, cross-play and cross-progression.
