As Path of Exile 2 previews are starting to come out, Grinding Gear Games has made an abundance of improvements to the sequel and these are what I found are the best.
As fans inch closer to the Path of Exile 2 early-access release on December 6, Grinding Gear Games continues to trickle out details regarding their massive sequel. CEO and Lead Game Designer Jonathan Rogers and the development team utilized community feedback to change the base gameplay of their title while improving virtually every aspect of gameplay to make Path of Exile 2 a true sequel.
While going hands-on with Path of Exile 2, I noticed some quality changes to PoE’s base gameplay, including quality of life changes that help the onboarding process of becoming exiled easier. Although these huge changes aren’t addressed in the preview, below are the five biggest changes (in my opinion) the team at Grinding Gear Games deployed to make their sequel feel like a true sequel.
Top 6 Path of Exile 2 New Key Features
The Dodge Roll
For the Path of Exile faithful, it’s clear as day there’s a brand-new change to gameplay. Players now have the ability to execute dodge rolls to evade enemy attacks. While this may not seem like a huge change, being able to dodge roll where there was previously no dodge in the original Path of Exile, is a huge improvement to base gameplay that keeps players in the action.
Moving While Attacking
Attention to detail has been applied to nearly every aspect of Grinding Gear Games’ sequel. In Path of Exile 2, Exiles can attack and move at the same time, keeping the action completely seamless. Before, players would have to stop to cast skills or attack, but Path of Exile 2 lets players swing and move. This keeps players in the action, and in tandem with the dodge roll, movement and character placement become the player’s biggest boons.
Enemy and Boss Design
Players will face many hurdles in PoE2, and these are compounded by strong enemy design. Long range enemies will tag-team with melee attackers to dispel an Exile’s quest. Smart AI keeps players on their toes with numerous attack tells, until they confront massive hulking monsters with red-font names, which makes the trash mobs feel like true training.
Each boss fight in PoE2 is a lesson in perseverance. Grinding Gear Games’ smart boss design makes these confrontations difficult, but where the developers expect excellence they deliver it in kind. Triumphing over these monsters gives the feeling of defeating an Elden Ring boss for the first time, and smart game design makes it simple to retry.
Microtransaction Carry-over
Grinding Gear Games has officially announced that players will be able to transfer their microtransactions from the original Path of Exile to the upcoming Path of Exile 2. In addition to this exciting news, the studio is offering a special bonus: fans who have invested more than $500 in the original game will receive free early access to PoE2 as a token of appreciation. This move demonstrates Grinding Gear Games’ commitment to honouring its loyal fan base, who have financially supported the game over the years. Ultimately, the studio is acknowledging and rewarding the dedication of its community.
Couch Co-op
Fans of Path of Exile have been eagerly calling for the introduction of couch co-op gameplay, and Path of Exile 2 finally answers that demand in a significant way. Instead of needing to create separate accounts for each player wanting to enjoy the game together, individuals can now use two characters from a single account to embark on adventures in the expansive world of Wraeclast.
This feature allows friends or family members to join forces seamlessly by simply connecting a second controller, making cooperative play more accessible than ever. This significant change not only enhances the gaming experience but also fosters a sense of camaraderie as players can share the excitement of their journey while sitting side by side.
Cross-play, Cross-platform Confirmed
Fans will be able to play with friends regardless of the platform (or couch) they play on. Further, characters can be played on PC, and picked up immediately on console, and vice versa.
While Path of Exile 2 still has just over two weeks to release, it can’t come soon enough. While it’s clear Grinding Gear Games listens to their audience, it’s a huge undertaking to include all the quality of life changes they’ve made to the base game while adding so much more. The improved UI and endgame are honourable mentions, as the title displays information in a far better way than the original and the endgame provides countless hours and challenges to take on even after the credits have rolled.
Path of Exile 2 launches in early-access on December 6.
