Path of Exile 2 Shifts Focus from New Classes in Future Updates

Path of Exile 2's game director revealed that upcoming patches will prioritize other content over new character classes. Discover the reasoning behind this shift and insights into the game's current direction.

Path of Exile 2 to Scale Back on New Class Releases

Expect More Ascendancy Options Instead

In a recent Q&A, Path of Exile 2 Game Director Jonathan Rogers explained that new classes won’t be a priority in future patches due to their complex development process.

When asked about expectations for new classes in every patch, Rogers clarified that focusing on classes as the centerpiece of an update proved challenging. We’d love to include a new class with every release, but we’ve learned that anchoring an expansion’s development to a class was a misstep, he said.

He noted that balancing a fixed release date with the unpredictable workload of class development caused delays. The focus on including the Huntress in the next patch, for instance, led to repeated postponements.

The Huntress had to be in the next patch, which forced us to keep adjusting the release date, ultimately stretching this expansion’s timeline longer than planned, Rogers explained.

He emphasized preferring a fixed release schedule over uncertain class launches. While I’d love to include a new class in the next expansion, I won’t commit to it because it risks derailing our timeline again, he added.

Reflecting on the Dawn of the Hunt update, Rogers stressed that class releases are too unpredictable to be tied to patch cycles. Players, he noted, prefer frequent updates over waiting months for major content drops.

Players want consistent progress and don’t want to wait six to nine months for a big update, Rogers said. Classes are less predictable, so we’re focusing on delivering content more regularly.

However, Rogers assured fans that new Ascendancies will appear in every upcoming patch. He also expressed enthusiasm for adding more classes post-Early Access. We’re committed to Ascendancies in every patch, and I’m eager to keep adding classes even after the full release, he said.

Dawn of the Hunt Update to Revamp Path of Exile 2 Endgame

Tougher Bosses and Slower Power Progression

Alongside the Huntress, the next patch introduces over 100 new skills, support gems, and unique gear tailored for midgame and endgame. Grinding Gear Games (GGG) aims to make bosses significantly tougher, slowing players’ rise to overwhelming power.

Some mechanics are being trivialized too easily, Rogers noted. Players are reaching peak power too quickly, before even completing their initial progression. He emphasized that while players should eventually feel powerful, it shouldn’t happen too early.

Rogers expressed disappointment that Pinnacle Bosses were defeated too quickly, citing one instance where a boss fell in just fourteen seconds due to an overpowered build. He envisions a more challenging first encounter with these bosses.

The first time you face a Pinnacle Boss, it should be intense and difficult. With more fights, better gear, and optimized builds, you can eventually dominate, but not right away, Rogers explained.

He added that balance changes aim to slow the power curve. We want players to feel powerful, but that should come later. Our adjustments focus on making the journey to that point more gradual, he concluded.

Path of Exile 2 Director Satisfied with Ruthless Difficulty

Skill, Not Balance Changes, Drives Easier Experiences

The campaign’s difficulty in Path of Exile 2 has sparked debate, with some players finding it too easy and others too hard. Rogers, however, is content with the current balance, suggesting player skill shapes perceptions over time.

He noted that many complaints came from veterans comparing the new game to its predecessor without fully engaging with Path of Exile 2. Once players master the game, it feels much easier, Rogers said, anticipating fewer complaints as players adapt.

Players often think we tweaked the balance when they replay the game, but in reality, they’ve just gotten better, he explained. If issues persist, Rogers said the team would reassess, but he remains optimistic about the current difficulty.