Summary
Ever since it came out in early access,Path of Exile 2has enjoyed quite a lot of success and time in the limelight, rapidly becoming one of the best action RPGs in the history of the genre. This doesn’t mean it’s been all roses for Grinding Gear Games' title, however, and it has already faced a couple of controversies regarding its loot and difficulty. Many players were not satisfied with the pace ofPath of Exile 2’s endgame or even the leveling experience, requiring dodge rolls and extra attention to avoid enemy attacks. However, another issue is quickly arising - nerfs.
While GGG stated that it will try not to nerf popular builds or skills, it also made clear that some big outliers will have to be looked into in some way to maintain the game’s balance overall. SomePath of Exile 2skills have already been nerfedin power to some extent, and while it may be a healthy approach for GGG to have, it needs to strike a balance between nerfs and killing builds entirely. This is something thatHelldivers 2learned the hard way, and it’s important thatPath of Exile 2doesn’t make the same mistake.
Helldivers 2 and Path of Exile 2 Risk Being in The Same Boat
How Path of Exile 2 Handles Nerfs May Carve a Different Path Than Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2andPath of Exile 2are extremely different games, but they are comparable in the sense of community voice and how builds (or loadouts) can be a key component of the gameplay experience. In the case ofPath of Exile 2’s builds, they are composed of many elements that range from one’s class and skill selection to the passive tree. Just like its predecessor, GGG’s new action RPG emphasizes the use of the passive tree to enhance one’s build and stretch what their character can do even further.
However, this hinges on the assumption that builds work in a given way. ThoughPath of Exile 2allows players to respec passive points, this can be very expensive very quickly, making it very difficult to make good builds that resist the test of time. Still, there are plenty of good builds in the game, but GGG’s early access nerfs are already being felt by fans for two key reasons. For starters, very rarely players are happy with nerfs and would rather have buffs for underperforming aspects of the game. InPath of Exile 2, this can be even more grueling if nerfs make a given build either unplayable or simply not as good, as respeccing passives can cost thousands of gold per point.
Respeccing in Path of Exile 2 After Nerfs is a Controversy Waiting to Happen
This becomes exponentially more problematic the higher the character’s level, meaning that if nerfs make a given build less fun to play (or straight-up not good anymore to tackle the game’s content) then it may be best to respec. However, if players haven’t beensaving gold inPath of Exile 2, suddenly having to spend a fortune to respec a lot of points may not be on the table. The alternative would be grinding to acquire enough gold to then respec the character, but with a nerfed build it may not be ideal.
Why Path of Exile 2’s Approach to Nerfs Should Differ From Helldivers 2’s
As such, if GGG wants or simply needs to keep nerfing skills and builds inPath of Exile 2, it should offer free passive tree respecs for those affected, so they can at least pivot to something else for free, and it would sting much less.Helldivers 2’s many nerfsended up eroding community morale, and there’s an important lesson for GGG to learn there in regards to how handling nerfs can change the perception of its game. With many complaints about the game’s difficulty,Path of Exile 2could risk players review-bombing the game before it’s even fully out of early access, and handling nerfs with a more player-catered approach could be a game-changer.
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.
