Path of Exile 2 Announced, First Gameplay Revealed

Grinding Gear Games announced Path of Exile 2. What's interesting, the game will not be a stand-alone title, but a huge expansion to the original PoE, offering a new campaign, numerous gameplay changes, new character classes, and improved graphics. Developers presented some of the planned novelties on the first gameplay.

This weekend in Auckland, New Zealand, ExileCon 2019 began. The event attracted Path of Exile fans from all over the world. Developers from Grinding Gear Games prepared numerous surprises for the opening of the event. In addition to the announcement of further expansions for Path of Exile, the developers also introduced Path of Exile 2, which is a completely new chapter in the development of this extremely popular action RPG. It is worth noting that it will not be a completely independent game, but rather a very big expansion, which will be released to the players with the update 4.0. The beta version of Path of Exile 2 is to be released at the earliest at the end of 2020, the full version is expected to be available in 2021. Until then, the devs are to inform about the next details related to the planned novelties, introducing some of them to the original Path of Exile in the coming months.

Path of Exile 2 will offer a new story campaign of seven acts set twenty years after the events of the first Path of Exile. Starting the adventure with the second part, we will be asked to create a completely new character, choosing from the class archetypes known to fans of the prequel. Later, by gaining experience and performing appropriate tasks, we will be able to decide on nineteen completely new specialties (Ascendancy Classes), unavailable in the original campaign.

During the game, we will have completely rebuilt systems of equipment, gems, and skills, which were created on the basis of suggestions from fans. Other novelties appear in the visuals. The devs want to implement a new lighting system and object physics, as well as introduce much better animations and 3D models. The aforementioned novelties were presented on the first gameplay from Path of Exile 2, containing developer commentary describing them step by step.

It is worth noting, that Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2 will be available from the same game client. Both titles are to be distinguished by the endgame, which will be rebuilt in the upcoming expansion called Path of Exile: Conquerors of the Atlas. It also means that we will be able to use all our existing cosmetic items and materials purchased through microtransactions in both titles.

Path of Exile beta is expected to appear at the end of 2020.