Path of Exile 2’s is looking to significantly shake up things for Grinding Gear Games’ free-to-play hack and slash RPG through the introduction of a new campaign, ascendancy classes, and more. Even with the first entry in the series still receiving regular updates, the sequel’s release date has remained a hot topic ever since it was first revealed.
The long-awaited next chapter has spent quite a bit of time under the radar since it was officially announced, but as we head into the latter half of 2023, it was looking like we might have been getting closer to finally getting our hands on the game. Here is everything we know about Path of Exile 2, including details on its release date, gameplay, story, trailers, and more.
Path of Exile 2 Release Date
- Current planned release date for Path of Exile 2: 2025
Path of Exile 2’s announcement put its release date in the distant future, as the developer clarified the game still needed to spend time in development before being ready.
Although its showcase during ExileCon 2019 did include in-game footage and a playable chunk of Path of Exile 2, developer Grinding Gear Games said that it would be at least one year before players get their hands on the title.
Years passed by without the game launching, but we now know that Path of Exile 2’s full details will be shared during ExileCon 2023, which takes place between July 29 and July 30. Hopefully, this is when we’ll finally learn more about its release date.
Unfortunately, as was revealed at ExileCon 2023, Path of Exile 2 is going to need even more time in development, although the game’s director was confident in saying that it’s getting close to being finished. “We’re incredibly excited to be near the finish line, but we are not quite there yet. We’re determined not to rush this, and make sure we get it right.”
With the first public closed beta test due to start in June 2024, we probably won’t see a Path of Exile 2 release date being confirmed until 2025.
Path of Exile 2 Beta Test
Like the first entry in the series, Path of Exile 2 will have a beta test prior to launch, letting players try out its improvements and provide feedback.
Initially, Grinding Gear Games was hoping for a late 2020 start, however, that didn’t come to pass. Alongside the game’s full details, its beta test dates will also be shared during ExileCon 2023. We now know that the closed beta test is due to begin on Friday, 7th June, 2024. Grinding Gear Games hasn’t provided any information on how to join the closed beta test yet, but we do expect to hear more later in the year.
Path of Exile 2 Gameplay
Path of Exile 2 features a brand new six-act story campaign that, interestingly enough, leads to the same endgame focused on the Atlas of Worlds that should already be familiar to existing players.
The sequel introduces a new skill system. Six existing class archetypes will carry over, being joined by six new classes. In addition, each of these picks will have a choice between three Ascendays classes of its own, allowing it to specialize even further.
Support gems will be socketed straight into skill gems in Path of Exile 2, potentially turning every skill gem into a 6-link. This means that sockets on armor are no longer a thing. Aura users will also be able to cast multiple auras with a single press of a button.
Path of Exile 2 reworks the gear progression while introducing new items for players to farm and tinker with using its crafting system. Shapeshifting is also making its way into the game, promising a fluid system that allows players to switch forms even while mid-animation.
During their new journey across Wraeclast, players will visit new areas and battle new monsters and bosses which, from the footage shown, seem to draw quite a bit from the more mechanically-intensive encounters of later expansions.
WASD controls are also confirmed to be supported, giving players a choice between them and the more traditional mouse-focused control scheme.
Weapon switching will be more useful, thanks to the addition of a feature that allows equipped weapons to be assigned to specific skills. Cast those skills and characters automatically switch to the right weapon.
Furthermore, Skill Books offer special passive points that can be used to purchase different nodes for each equipped weapon set.
The visual side of the game will also be reworked, with new character models and improved animations. As for microtransactions, they will be usable across both games.
Path of Exile 2 Story
Path of Exile 2 takes place 20 years after the events of the main game. With Kitava and his godly peers long dead, society has started rebuilding, however, not without unsavory characters making their way to the top and corrupting Wraeclast yet again.
That being said, Path of Exile 2 will move away from the massive events of its predecessor, bringing a more focused, smaller-scale story to the table.
Path of Exile 2 will see players encountering new characters and tackling a new period of Wraeclast’s lore. While details on the overall story remain scarce at the moment, the character selection screen is quite striking.
In it, all playable classes are lined up and ready to be hanged, the player-selected exile being the only one lucky enough to escape.
Path of Exile 2 System Requirements
As it’s still in development, Grinding Gear Games has yet to reveal any system requirements for Path of Exile 2. We’ll be on the lookout and update this section with any info as it becomes available.
Path of Exile 2 Trailers and Gameplay Videos
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