Path of Exile 2 Now a Full Standalone Sequel, Closed Beta Details Revealed - IGN (2024)

Path of Exile 2 has graduated into a full standalone sequel to the original Path of Exile, fully shaking off its origins as an expansion pack.

"When we announced Path of Exile 2 at ExileCon 2019, we told you guys that we were releasing Path of Exile 2 as an expansion to Path of Exile 1 and that both campaigns would be playable in the same game client with a shared endgame," director Jonathan Rogers explained.

"But Path of Exile 2's scope has continued to grow and grow. It's far more than just an expansion with a new campaign, it's entirely new monsters, skills, mechanics, classes, everything you would expect from the next generation of action RPGs. Not to even mention revamps of most of the Path of Exile 1 league content. This thing is freaking huge."

Path of Exile 2 - July 2023 Screenshots

According to Rogers, the decision was made when the dev team realized that the original approach would "essentially be destroying a game that people love for no reason." The result is that Path of Exile 1 and 2 will be separate, with their own "mechanics, balance, endgames, and leagues."

Despite the split, Rogers said that Path of Exile 2 and its predecessor will continue to be a "shared platform," with both games being fully-supported and microtransactions being available across both games.

"Everything you have ever purchased or will purchase in the future will be usable in both games unless it's hyper-specific to the content of one of them. You can't be a bear in Path of Exil 1, so a reskin of your bear form isn't going to do anything. But you absolutely can equip the awesome sword skin you got and use all your stash tabs," Rogers said.

Everything you have ever purchased or will purchase in the future will be usable in both games unless it's hyper-specific to the content of one of them

However, because Path of Exile's story continues directly into Path of Exile 2, Grinding Gear Games plans to wind down story content for the original game and focus on league content instead.

Lots more content in Path of Exile 2

Rogers went on to show a lengthy demo set in Act 3 that revealed some of the following.

  • Act 3 is set in the ruinrs of the Vaal civlization. The Path of Exile 2 development team explored it using the Monk class, which is new to Path of Exile 2. Some of the skills he showed off included Killing Palm, which is used to cull enemies and give the Monk power charges. He also showed off Falling Thunder, which utilizes power charges to enhance its attack power. There's also Wind Blast, which keeps enemies back, and Shattering Palm, which puts an ice bomb on a target.
  • The team also showed off the Sorceress, a new Intelligence-focused character. "While the witch focuses more on occult magic and summoning, the Sorceress is themed around pure elemental destruction," Rogers says. Her skills include Spark, which bounces around in tight passages, Ice Nova, which hits all enemies and slows them down.
  • Every attribute combination has two classes associated with it. According to Rogers, "Strength/Int has the Templar or the Druid. On Dexterity you have the Ranger and the spear focused Huntress. And on Dex/Int you have the Shadow and the Monk."
  • Path of Exile 2 features Ascendancy classes, with each class having its own three Ascendanies that let you "further specialize the class in a way that only that class has access to."
  • Melee combat is far more mobile, which is one of the key differentiators between Path of Exile 2 and Diablo IV. The Monk in particular is a class that favors mobility over brute strength.
  • There's over 100 bosses to fight, and defeating a boss will award a permanent stat bonus. What's more, the freezing mechanics have been heavily updated to make it possible to freeze bosses. "In PoE2, all crowd control mechanics now have internal metres that allow you to build up to a freeze or stun, or whatever other CC mechanic that you are using. It's a little bit like Poise from games like Elden Ring, though the meters tend to be a lot smaller. Every character now has a dodge roll. It also lets you cancel out of almost any skill at any time," Rogers says.
  • Path of Exile 2 has a new resources called "Spirit." Spirit is a dedicated resource that can be used for ongoing effects.

The team also showed off a host of other mechanics, suggesting that players will find a very different and in some ways revitalized game for the sequel. While Grinding Gear Games had plenty to show for ExileCon, though, the closed beta is still a ways out. Rogers confirmed that it will be out June 7, 2024.

A true sequel

Path of Exile 2 was first announced back in 2019. When we got to play it in 2021, we called it a "gorgeous overhaul of the classic action RPG." A trailer shown during Summer Game Fest teased it as a "free-to-play Diablo IV alternative."

In the meantime, Diablo IV is available now, but it's facing plenty of issues as it struggles through Season of the Malignant. It'll be a while though before fans get a true alternative.

"Path of Exile 2 has been a long time coming, and we're incredibly excited to near the finish line, but we are not quite there yet," Rogers said. "We are determined not to rush this, and make sure we get it right."

Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

Path of Exile 2 Now a Full Standalone Sequel, Closed Beta Details Revealed - IGN (2024)

FAQs

Path of Exile 2 Now a Full Standalone Sequel, Closed Beta Details Revealed - IGN? ›

The team also showed off a host of other mechanics, suggesting that players will find a very different and in some ways revitalized game for the sequel. While Grinding Gear Games had plenty to show for ExileCon, though, the closed beta is still a ways out. Rogers confirmed that it will be out June 7, 2024.

Is there a release date for Path of Exile 2? ›

Path of Exile 2 showed up for Sony's May 2024 State of Play presentation, revealing an early access release window of late 2024. Along with first details for the dungeon crawler's pre-launch plans, developer Grinding Gear Games' video came with more gameplay and features for players to look forward to.

Is Path of Exile 2 a new game or an update? ›

However, recent news has revealed that PoE 2 will essentially be a separate game. There will be a new campaign, a new endgame system, new classes, skills, bosses, and more. However, the microtransactions you have purchased in PoE will still carry over to PoE 2.

Is Path of Exile 2 going to be free? ›

Having played the first few hours, I'm still a little shocked that brooding gothic action RPG Path Of Exile 2 (due out later this year) is set to be free. Or at least, every bit as free as its predecessor.

How to get into PoE2 closed beta? ›

People who have spent a certain amount (in the hundreds of dollars) in the game will get a beta key for free, those who did not spend enough can buy a PoE 2 supporter pack for a couple dozen of dollars to receive store points, cosmetic items and a beta key, and those who don't want to spend any money will have to wait ...

Will PoE2 replace PoE 1? ›

So we made a decision: Path of Exile 1 and 2 will be separate, with their own mechanics, balance, endgames, and leagues." Despite being separate games, PoE1 and PoE2 won't be entirely disconnected. In-game purchases will be available in both, with exceptions for compatibility issues.

Will Path of Exile 2 carry over? ›

Poe 2 is a completely separate game from poe1. its like destiny 1 and 2, or diablo 1 and 2, or any other game that had a 1 followed by a 2. Nothing will happen. The games aren't interchangeable, just MTX is carrying over.

Will PoE2 be complex? ›

It will be simpler in the sense it won't have a decade of bloat - they are picking and choosing and will be streamlining things to an extent since they have a whole new game - but the core complexity will remain.

What will transfer from PoE 1 to PoE2? ›

PoE 2 will be a separate game, characters and equipment from PoE 1 will not be usable in PoE 2. I do not and will not use TFT. The only things that'll be usable in PoE 2 from POE1 IIRC are non-consumable MTX.

Is Poe 2 standalone? ›

Instead of replacing Path of Exile as originally planned, Path of Exile 2 will be a standalone sequel that will run concurrently with the original. And it's huge, with a new campaign, new character classes and ascendancies, and a new endgame, the works.

Should I start PoE or wait for PoE2? ›

Both games will be playable at the same time and PoE2 isn't going to take over PoE1. A lot of the game systems are changed in PoE2 but many of the concepts are the same so it wouldn't hurt to play PoE1 in the interim to get you up to speed.

Can you beat Path of Exile without paying? ›

You can, yeah. There's no direct player power tied behind spending real money. GGG will not sell you powerful gear, or in-game currency, or anything of that nature, and you can comfortably get through the campaign without spending a cent.

Do you need to play PoE before PoE2? ›

Yes, you can enjoy PoE2 without playing PoE at first. However, PoE does not just give you ''a bit'' of lore/world building. The whole World of PoE is built through PoE1. It's like watching Lord of the Rings - The two towers and saying the Fellowship of the ring is not required at all.

How long is the DLC for PoE2? ›

How long is Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire - Ultimate Edition? When focusing on the main objectives, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire - Ultimate Edition is about 47 Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 129 Hours to obtain 100% completion.

What is the max level in PoE2 Deadfire? ›

In Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, the level cap is 20. Creatures and NPCs have maximum level of 30.

Is Path of Exile 2 an expansion? ›

Path of Exile 2 started as a major expansion for Path of Exile (the original), and indeed, it retains a lot of that identity. You'll still unlock skills, get passives, and socket gems to upgrade your character. For a better look at how things differ, check out the gameplay trailer embedded above.

Will PoE2 have new characters? ›

In the upcoming release of Path of Exile 2, players can anticipate a diverse roster of 12 character classes, with 6 making a return from Path of Exile 1, excluding the Scion class. Excitingly, the game will introduce 6 new character classes: Monk, Huntress, Mercenary, Sorceress, Warrior, and Druid.

Is PoE2 coming to console? ›

Endgame – At the conclusion of Path of Exile 2's six-act campaign, you'll gain access to its endgame. Path of Exile 2 will be available in Early Access on PC, macOS, Xbox Series X & S, and PlayStation 5 by the end of 2024.

Will Path of Exile 2 be multiplayer? ›

Players can play collaboratively on a single account, or log in with two separate Path of Exile accounts on the same console. Verify your age to view this content. In addition, Path of Exile 2 is introducing full cross-play and cross-progression. Play with your friends without losing any progress!

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