Summary
The popular streamer Asmongold recently shared his opinion thatPath of Exile 2has the potential to “cannibalize"Diablo 4’s audience. WithPath of Exile 2set to launch in early access on December 6, Asmongold shared his thoughts on the game’s strengths in a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel.
Path of Exile 2will launch in early accesswith three campaign acts, six character classes, and a deep endgame system. Meanwhile,Diablo 4has announced several changes across all its classes, many of which were requested by players, as it prepares for the launch of Season 7. AlthoughPath of Exiledoesn’t share the long-standing history of theDiablofranchise, it is shaping up to be a potential strong competitor, and it seems like both the community and Blizzard are aware of this.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, streamer Asmongold pointed out several waysPath of Exile 2stands out compared toDiablo 4. One of his main points was how much more accessible the game is for new players, something he believes is a big improvement over the firstPath of Exile. While the original game had a lot of depth and complexity, its steep learning curve kept a lot of potential fans away. According to Asmongold, the sequel feels like a next-generation game, not just because of its streamlined mechanics but also its better visuals, making it stand out in both gameplay and design compared toDiablo 4.
Asmongold Believes Path of Exile 2 Will Take Market Share Away from Diablo 4
He also brought up howPath of Exile 2is free-to-play, which is a stark contrast toDiablo 4’s price tag and extra microtransactionsthat have frustrated many players. Asmongold argued that with these features,Path of Exile 2will be a serious competitor forDiablo 4’s audience. Moreover, Asmongold pointed out that Blizzard seems aware of this competition, with a recentTwitter postby Rod Fergusson,Diablo’s General Manager, suggesting that Asmongold may be right. In it, theDiabloexecutive said he believed that ARPGs should be called “Diablo-like.” This comment came shortly afterPath of Exile 2had its most-watched stream ever.
Fergusson’s statement received backlash from players, some of whom criticizedDiablo 4and praisedPath of Exileas a more authentic “Diablo-like” game. Answering to the tweet, many players pointed toDiablo 4’s heavy reliance on microtransactionsand some of its questionable design choices. Comments like, “When you make a goodDiablogame, then we can talk,” reflect the ongoing frustration Blizzard’s audience feels.
WhileDiablo 4has improved since its launch, its initial reception (full of bugs, UI issues, and expensive features) seems a little bit different from the excitement surroundingPath of Exile 2. WhetherPath of Exile 2can truly draw players away fromDiablo 4, as Asmongold suggests, remains to be seen.
