Path of Exile has a long history of fighting Diablo. The first part was positioned as an alternative to Diablo III when it launched in 2013. Now that Path of Exile 2 is in development and Diablo IV is stalling, parallels are again inevitable.
Image Credit: Grinding Gear Games
In an interview IGN Path of Exile 2 Development Lead Jonathan Rogers explained what makes Grinding Gear Games the Diablo IV free-to-play action role-playing game.
According to Rogers, Diablo IV went the MMO route and focused on skill cooldowns, while Path of Exile 2 developers prefer a different approach: “We’re on our way to the Elden Ring. More action with a hardcore twist”.
The main intention of Path of Exile 2 is “Much more emphasis on action”, “great bosses” And “A ridiculous amount of content”. The developer also assures that the game will go deeper.
Diablo IV players are outraged by the 1.1.0 nerfs for all characters and critical hits (Image Source: Blizzard)
Rogers said getting the balance right at the start is one of the team’s top priorities. Here’s a lesson the authors learned thanks to Diablo IV: “Players are very reluctant to change, especially downwards”.
Rogers commented on the barrage of criticism Blizzard faced after patch 1.1.0: “I feel very sorry for the developers. I’m sure they want the best, but yeah it’s a tough lesson.”.
Diablo IV was released on June 6th, 2023 and Path of Exile 2 will be released on June 7th, 2024 in closed beta format. The test will last several months and will cover the entire game. The release is expected for PC (Windows, macOS), PS5, Xbox Series X and S.
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