Summary
The sequel to Grinding Gear Games' 2013 ARPGPath of Exile,Path of Exile 2, is nearly here, bringing with it everything players loved about the first game, along with refined gameplay mechanics for the next generation, vastly improved visuals, and a brand-new story. There is certainly no shortage of live-service ARPGs on the market, soPath of Exile 2might have a difficult time standing out. However,Path of Exile 2is taking an approach that many other games like it do not, and that could result in its success.
Game Rant recently had the opportunity to attend a livepreview and presentation ofPath of Exile 2, where game director Jonathan Rogers gave us an extended look at its gameplay, including a breakdown of an approach that many other live-service ARPGs are criticized for placing on the back burner. Specifically, whereas many other live-service ARPGs have a tendency to launch without substantial endgame content,Path of Exile 2is doing its best to avoid that stigma and will be launching in early access with hundreds of hours of endgame content for players to enjoy.
Path of Exile 2’s Focus on Endgame Content Sets It Apart
Many ARPGs End Up Criticized for Lacking Substantial Endgame Content
When it comes tolive-service ARPGs, there is objectively no better way for a game to retain its player base than to have substantial endgame content as a long-term engagement driver, keeping players invested after completing its main story or initial leveling experience. Unfortunately, either not having enough or having unfulfilliing endgame content is an all-too-common problem many live-service ARPGs face, thereby causing the genre as a whole to often garner preemptive criticism. This problem is exponentially increased as endgame content takes too long to roll out for these games, or they are simply released too soon ahead of the content to come.
Sometimes, it’s not so much that a live-service ARPG doesn’t have enough endgame content, but that the content isn’t executed well. For example, many ARPGs have repetitive endgame activities like farming the same dungeons or grinding for gear without much variation, and while arepetitive gameplay loopcan be done well, that is just not often the case. Some games even stretch out content with absurd grind requirements in order to artificially extend playtime. However, this generally causes players to quickly lose interest as the content begins feeling more like a chore rather than an engaging and worthwhile use of time.
Endgame rewards can sometimes impact the reception of a live-service ARPG as well, providing little incentive to repeat endgame content.
Diablo 4is a great example of this in action, as it initially lacked diverse endgame activities and arguably relied too heavily on repetitiveNightmare Dungeons.Marvel’s Avengersis another fairly recent example of a game that failed due to its endgame, as it was ultimately deemed far too repetitive and not rewarding enough for the effort. Finally, written on the tombstone of BioWare’sAnthemis a statement about an endgame that was basically non-existent, all but forcing players to move on to a different game. To this day,Anthemis one of the greatest tragedies of gaming, and a large part of that tragedy stemmed from its insufficient endgame.
Path of Exile 2 Is Prioritizing Endgame Content Over Its Campaign
Path of Exile 2’s aim is to do whatever it takes to prevent an endgame fallout from happening, evenwhile it’s in early access. During thePath of Exile 2presentation we attended, Rogers can be quoted saying, “If we launch with a double-length campaign and a bad endgame, we would have to say, ‘Trust us, a good endgame is coming later.’ But if we launch with a 25-hour campaign and a great endgame, people can easily understand what’s coming when we say, ‘There are three more acts coming soon.'” This is the foundationPath of Exile 2has chosen to build on, and it may save it from extinction in the end.
Rather than launching with afull campaign,Path of Exile 2will only launch in early access with three out of its six campaign acts, and this was planned in advance so that Grinding Gear Games could focus on creating better endgame content for players right at launch. After completing the first three acts of the campaign, players will be required to play through those three acts again on “Cruel” difficulty, which essentially makes enemies more challenging but the overall experience more rewarding. Upon completing that, players will gain access toPath of Exile 2’s endgame, which currently has seven deep and unique systems.
Path of Exile 2’s Cruel difficulty will only remain in the game until the next three story acts are added, after which, players will only need to complete the entire campaign to access the endgame content.
It will be interesting to see whether this strategy ultimately pays off forPath of Exile 2, but it certainly seems like a promising approach.Path of Exile 2is aiming to succeed in an area where manyother live-service ARPGs have failed, and that may very well end up being the case with what it has lined out already, even with it launching in early access.
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.
