ExileCon 2019: Path of Exile 2 Hands-On

System · November 2019

ExileCon 2019: Path of Exile 2 Hands-On

Path of Exile fans descended upon the Aotea Centre in New Zealand last week, hoping to get a glimpse of the future of the ARPG. They got more than a glimpse, as Grinding Gear Games showcased the first 45 minutes of their upcoming Path of Exile 2 to the world. We got to go hands on - so how did it fare?

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Groqstrong · November 2019

Nice! So does it appear that the game is running on a new engine? Also any hint of a release date?

lotrlore · November 2019

Groqstrong said:

Nice! So does it appear that the game is running on a new engine? Also any hinylt of a release date?

As far as engine, when I asked Chris at ExileCon he mentioned it wasn't an entirely new engine, but the culmination of improvements made to the existing engine. Particle effects, increased texture work, physically based rendering - the screenshots and video don't do it justice. It felt and looked like a whole new engine, even though I'm sure it's not.

As far as release, at the earliest late 2020. But they wouldn't commit to a date. Chris mentioned they wanted to release it only when it was ready, and not before. A lot of the improvements coming with Path 2 will be implemented before the campaign hits, though. So we will see a lot before the next campaign hits.

3dom · November 2019

Great to hear they are re-making slot system. It was one of the main repellents in the game - way too much RNG.

kitarad · November 2019

3dom said:

Great to hear they are re-making slot system. It was one of the main repellents in the game - way too much RNG.

Agreed the randomness used to piss me off too.

Utinni · November 2019

lotrlore said:

Groqstrong said:

Nice! So does it appear that the game is running on a new engine? Also any hinylt of a release date?

As far as engine, when I asked Chris at ExileCon he mentioned it wasn't an entirely new engine, but the culmination of improvements made to the existing engine. Particle effects, increased texture work, physically based rendering - the screenshots and video don't do it justice. It felt and looked like a whole new engine, even though I'm sure it's not.

As far as release, at the earliest late 2020. But they wouldn't commit to a date. Chris mentioned they wanted to release it only when it was ready, and not before. A lot of the improvements coming with Path 2 will be implemented before the campaign hits, though. So we will see a lot before the next campaign hits.

I believe they said everything but the new 7 acts, socket system, and full engine upgrade will be gradually added which is awesome. Even the graphical updates for older areas will be added before PoE2!

Elderknight · November 2019

The new look makes me so happy, PoE rocks.

ThalantyrDSL · November 2019

It looks slower paced, more strategic, but I doubt it'll stay that way. People will figure out the builds that run at 400km/h and spin to win. PoE is majorly lacking in strategy. If the boss fights have more mechanic to them, and even the yellow/rare mobs, then it'll be worth playing again. I don't think it'll continue to lead if they stick to them whole 'one-shot' gameplay that this game is known for.

Utinni · November 2019

ThalantyrDSL said:

If the boss fights have more mechanic to them

Gonna assume you haven't gotten very far in the PoE endgame.

Quizzical · November 2019

My main complaint about PoE is that the control scheme wasn't very versatile, but forced you to have very heavy mouse usage in order to play the game. It was to the extent that playing the game at all was a repetitive strain injury waiting to happen, and no game is worth that. I'm guessing that they're not going to address that in PoE 2, but it would be nice if they did--and also in PoE 1.

Thane · November 2019

3dom said:

Great to hear they are re-making slot system. It was one of the main repellents in the game - way too much RNG.

mb not your game if you are not that hard into RNG

Gzexx · November 2019

3dom said:

Great to hear they are re-making slot system. It was one of the main repellents in the game - way too much RNG.

You have literally no idea what ur talking about. If you spent more than 30 mins playing the game you'd know the sockets can be recolored and you can eliminate a lot of rng thru ur crafting bench. Have u ever actually played the game or are u just posting for attention??

Gzexx · November 2019

You people are all shot lmao.

Quizzical said:

My main complaint about PoE is that the control scheme wasn't very versatile, but forced you to have very heavy mouse usage in order to play the game. It was to the extent that playing the game at all was a repetitive strain injury waiting to happen, and no game is worth that. I'm guessing that they're not going to address that in PoE 2, but it would be nice if they did--and also in PoE 1.

Bro that's what the genre is in its entirety.... That's what ARPGs are... Especially an arpg that was defined early in its life as the spiritual successor to d2

Utinni said:

ThalantyrDSL said:

If the boss fights have more mechanic to them

Gonna assume you haven't gotten very far in the PoE endgame.

Gonna wager a bet and say maybe 10% of the comments itt are from ppl who have actually played the game and know what the fuck they're talking about

Erinak1 · November 2019

I imagine the crimes they are hanged for will be the same crimes as in poe 1. I do agree that if people complain about rng on a system with a non-rng solution, either they haven't actually played the game past the first few acts or arpgs really aren't for them :P Edit: For anyone interested, these are the crimes they were given exile for in poe: Marauder: I think it was being part of an uprising against their slave-masters, or maybe just killing their owner. Duelist: Killing a noble in a duel Shadow: Technically innocent (in a way), was sent to Wraeclast by a client who hired him for an assassination to keep him quiet. Scion: Killing her husband Ranger: Poaching Templar: Blasphemy, as he spoke out against the corruption of the templars Witch: They burnt her house, she burnt their children.. fair deal? Wow, this forum really messes up formatting.

RS-Man · November 2019

I hope they add gamepad support to Path of Exile 2, i don't see why games nowadays don't give the option to switch between Gamepad or kb/mouse, give us the choice, meanwhile i will keep playing Grimdawn which does have it

crankked · November 2019

RS-Man said:

I hope they add gamepad support to Path of Exile 2, i don't see why games nowadays don't give the option to switch between Gamepad or kb/mouse, give us the choice, meanwhile i will keep playing Grimdawn which does have it

Maybe because it's a PC game? I get some games have controller support, but controllers are for consoles. Don't complain when you can't use them on PC.

MaxBacon · November 2019

Well a new title is the opportunity to improve core stuff, tho it'd be nice a much greater visual quality and polish, I know the engine they are using is haunted by performance as is

Quizzical · November 2019

Gzexx said:

You people are all shot lmao.

Quizzical said:

My main complaint about PoE is that the control scheme wasn't very versatile, but forced you to have very heavy mouse usage in order to play the game. It was to the extent that playing the game at all was a repetitive strain injury waiting to happen, and no game is worth that. I'm guessing that they're not going to address that in PoE 2, but it would be nice if they did--and also in PoE 1.

Bro that's what the genre is in its entirety.... That's what ARPGs are... Especially an arpg that was defined early in its life as the spiritual successor to d2

For some games, it's intrinsic to the gameplay that the game absolutely has to have heavy mouse usage. PoE didn't strike me that way. Just offering WASD movement as an option (not mandatory!) without changing anything else about the game at all would probably make the gameplay a lot more ergonomic friendly. I've read that they did that for the console version (technically a thumbstick or d-pad, but that's basically what WASD movement means on a controller) because the game would be basically unplayable on consoles otherwise, but refused to offer it in the PC version.

rojoArcueid · November 2019

Quizzical said:

My main complaint about PoE is that the control scheme wasn't very versatile, but forced you to have very heavy mouse usage in order to play the game. It was to the extent that playing the game at all was a repetitive strain injury waiting to happen, and no game is worth that. I'm guessing that they're not going to address that in PoE 2, but it would be nice if they did--and also in PoE 1.

This was the single reason why moved to the PS4 version. It plays really well on a controller with native support. I couldn't push myself to continue click spamming on PC anymore and xpadder felt very awkward with this game since it's not native.

Celcius · January 2020

ThalantyrDSL said:

It looks slower paced, more strategic, but I doubt it'll stay that way. People will figure out the builds that run at 400km/h and spin to win. PoE is majorly lacking in strategy. If the boss fights have more mechanic to them, and even the yellow/rare mobs, then it'll be worth playing again. I don't think it'll continue to lead if they stick to them whole 'one-shot' gameplay that this game is known for.

ARPGs are built to be fast paced with deadly bosses that can one shot you occasionally. If you don't like that, this genre just is not for you. They are not going to "slow down" the game. People love the pace of the game BECAUSE of how fast it is. There are far more complicated boss fights in the game since the last time you played. (it seems the last time you played must have been years ago since you are assuming the bosses don't have interesting mechanics) Most PoE veterans would tell you one of their favorite things to do in PoE is the boss fights.

If you don't think it'll continue to lead the pack of ARPGs in PoE 2 you are very mistaken. None of the ARPGs coming out have a chance except Diablo 4. Diablo 4 only has a chance because it is a Diablo game too; long term it still doesn't. By the time Diablo 4 comes out (looking like 2022 at the earliest) the next mega expansion for PoE will be coming out as well as it will have had another 2+ years of content updates including PoE 2. At this point the only way to compete with PoE 2 is to try to make a completely different style of game really. They are behemoth, much like WoW was to MMOs for years; only without the crucial mistake of throwing out their initial vision in favor of mass appeal.

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ExileCon 2019: Path of Exile 2 Hands-On

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ExileCon 2019: Path of Exile 2 Hands-On

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=/= Better be defeated for a triumph than not to triumph by fear of failure! =\=