Path of Exile 2's game director has stated that future major updates will not prioritize the addition of new classes. Discover the reasoning behind this strategic shift and the developers' perspective on the game's current direction.
New Character Releases in Path of Exile 2 Won't Accompany Every Patch
Expect More Ascendancy Expansions Instead
Path of Exile 2 Game Director Jonathan Rogers revealed in a recent Q&A that players should not anticipate new classes in forthcoming updates, citing the unpredictable nature of class development.
When questioned about the possibility of a new class with each major patch, Rogers explained that while the team initially desired this, they've learned that centering an expansion around a class creates development bottlenecks. "Ideally, every release would include a class, but we've realized it was a mistake to use class development as the cornerstone for expansion planning," Rogers stated.
He detailed how the development team faced a difficult choice between committing to fixed release dates with uncertain content scope versus delaying releases to guarantee specific features. The team's commitment to including the Huntress in the next update resulted in constantly shifting release timelines.
"Our insistence on including the Huntress in the next patch meant we couldn't lock in a release date, ultimately causing this expansion to take significantly longer than anticipated," Rogers explained.
He emphasized that moving forward, the team values fixed release schedules over feature promises, meaning they cannot guarantee when new classes will arrive. "While I'd love to include a class in our next expansion, I won't make that promise because it would prevent us from committing to a solid release date," he added.
Based on their experience developing Dawn of the Hunt, Rogers clarified that players should not expect class releases to align with future patches. The unpredictable development cycle for classes conflicts with the team's commitment to delivering regular updates.
"Players genuinely want to see consistent progress and don't want to wait six to nine months between major updates," Rogers noted. "That's why it's crucial we deliver content regularly, making class releases less predictable in our scheduling."
However, Rogers assured players that every future update will include additional Ascendancy options. He also expressed enthusiasm for continuing to add classes even after Early Access concludes. "As mentioned, Ascendancies are something we can definitely deliver regularly. Post-release, we may even introduce additional classes—I'm certainly eager to expand our roster," Rogers confirmed.
Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt Enhances Endgame Experience
Promising More Challenging Endgame Content
The upcoming Huntress update introduces over 100 new skills, support gems, and unique gear tailored for midgame and endgame progression. These changes support Grinding Gear Games' commitment to significantly increase boss difficulty. Rogers mentioned the need to extend the time before character power reaches levels that trivialize endgame challenges, while ensuring players can eventually achieve that power fantasy.
"Certain mechanics require balancing because they're completely negating intended challenges," Rogers explained. "Players are reaching absurd power levels too early in their progression. While achieving overwhelming power should remain possible, it shouldn't happen before completing the initial progression climb."
Rogers expressed disappointment at how quickly players defeated Pinnacle Bosses. He described his vision for these encounters as extremely difficult battles where the first player to succeed in a new league would face tremendous challenge. Instead, one character defeated a Pinnacle Boss in just fourteen seconds due to an optimized build.
He hopes the revamped progression system and balance adjustments will create more meaningful first encounters with Pinnacle Bosses. "Your initial Pinnacle Boss fight should be a demanding, intense experience. As you gain experience, better gear, and refine your build, you can eventually reach the point where you defeat the boss in seconds—but that shouldn't be your first experience," Rogers elaborated.
"The current ease of acquiring excessive power has gotten somewhat out of control, and that's our primary concern," Rogers concluded. The balance changes aim to extend the journey toward ultimate power: "Players should always pursue that power fantasy, just not achieve it immediately. That's where most of our balancing efforts are concentrated."
Path of Exile 2 Director Satisfied With Current Difficulty Level
The Game Didn't Get Easier—You Improved
Path of Exile 2's campaign difficulty has sparked diverse reactions, with some players finding it too challenging and others considering it too easy. Rogers expressed satisfaction with the current difficulty balance and anticipates player perceptions will evolve over time. The development team noticed that many complaints came from seasoned Path of Exile players who hadn't yet experienced the sequel, leading them to draw comparisons between the two games.
"I expect significantly fewer complaints this time around," Rogers predicted. "Once players become familiar with the mechanics, they'll find the experience much more manageable. If that proves untrue, we'll have valuable data to guide adjustments, though I'm optimistic it won't be necessary."
"Players are often surprised by their own improvement. Many return after their second playthrough convinced we've rebalanced the game, when in reality they've simply become more skilled," Rogers observed.
