Path of Exile 2 Devs Address Endgame Challenge

Summary

• The Path of Exile 2 developers are standing firm on the challenging endgame, despite player feedback.
• Co-director Jonathan Rogers emphasized, "...if you’re dying all the time then you’re probably not ready to keep going up the power curve."
• Players explore the complex Atlas of Worlds in the endgame, encountering advanced challenges and formidable bosses.

Path of Exile 2 co-directors Mark Roberts and Jonathan Rogers have addressed the community's concerns about the game's demanding endgame difficulty. As a sequel to the original 2013 game, Path of Exile 2 introduces a new skill system with 240 active skill gems and 12 character classes. After completing the six-act story, players can dive into the intense 100 endgame maps.

Since its early access launch in December 2024, the isometric action RPG has attracted a significant player base. This year, fans eagerly await quality-of-life enhancements while anticipating the full release. The first update of 2025, Patch 0.1.0, addresses various bugs and crashes, especially on PlayStation 5, and improves gameplay by fixing issues with monsters, skills, and damage.

In an exclusive interview with content creators Darth Microtransaction and GhazzyTV, Roberts and Rogers discussed the upcoming Patch 0.1.1 and defended the endgame's difficulty. They emphasized the importance of death having consequences, stating, “The whole ‘death actually mattering’ thing is actually important. You have to have some level of failure being possible,” and noted that simplifying the design to one portal would change the game's feel. Path of Exile 2 players have expressed frustration with the endgame's current setup, which features aggressive monster designs and rapid enemy movements, making strategic encounters particularly challenging.

Path of Exile 2 Devs Defend Endgame's Difficulty

Regarding the loss of EXP during an Atlas run, Rogers explained, “It’s keeping you in the place where you’re supposed to be, as in if you’re dying all the time then you’re probably not ready to keep going up the power curve.” The team at Grinding Gear Games is reviewing the elements contributing to endgame difficulty, aiming to preserve an authentic experience for players. There are numerous advanced tips available to help players navigate Path of Exile 2’s endgame, such as conquering high-Waystone Tier maps, salvaging Quality gear, and strategically using portals, yet the challenge remains a hot topic among fans.

Path of Exile 2’s endgame unfolds in the Atlas of Worlds, where players aim to progress by unlocking various maps and defeating the Beasts that inhabit them. Access to the Atlas is granted after completing the main campaign on Cruel Difficulty. Each interconnected world within the Atlas presents high-level challenges tailored for advanced, dedicated players, featuring formidable bosses, intricate maps, and the need to optimize robust builds through gear and skill enhancements.