What Do We Know About PoE 2

Since Path of Exile’s 2013 release, the action RPG received many expansions, adding content from items and bosses to a whole new endgame system in the form of the Atlas of Worlds. However, its most ambitious update is still to come. Path of Exile 2 will not be a conventional sequel, since its innovations will be added to the original game rather than creating a new title. Yet those changes are extensive, including a new full campaign, a graphics revamp, and many altered mechanics. While not all details have been revealed yet, the developers have shared information on a number of key features.

Twenty Years Later

The sequel campaign is set two decades into the future of the continent of Wraeclast and deals with the aftermath of the original story. With the gods gone, ambitious and ruthless mortals rise to exploit this vacuum of power, leaving “the land of the damned” no less troubled than before. This time, the developers wish to focus on a smaller-scale narrative with more personal stakes. Players are invited to try on the role of a recently escaped prisoner destined to confront the new authorities that nearly had them killed.

This new storyline consists of seven acts that will nevertheless contain roughly the same amount of content as the original ten-act campaign. After all, it is meant to occupy a similar space from a character advancement standpoint, allowing players to power level under different conditions before taking on the endgame. The previews seen so far indicate that this campaign is harder and more varied compared to its predecessor. Boss fights and even encounters with weaker enemies are trickier from the start, making this an appealing option for veteran players looking for a fresh challenge.

It is important to note that this is only an option. The original campaign will remain available to those who prefer it, meaning that players will now be able to choose between two leveling alternatives for their new characters. Both stories tie into the same Atlas of Worlds experience after their conclusion. All existing progression – from gear and cosmetics to Awakened Atlas levels – will remain fully intact, so long-time fans will not lose anything.

Dark World

In addition to the fascinating boss fights, the previews have wowed the community with a radical graphics upgrade. The existing graphics engine is several years behind the times, so it is not surprising that there would be a lot of room for improvement. Even so, the changes exceeded many people’s expectations. They include:

• An immersive physics system with realistic object textures and interactions;
• Improved grass and liquid rendering;
• Updated character and item models, including smoother animations;
• Dynamic lighting and enhanced particle effects;
• More versatile camera angles and zoom levels;
• More varied and inventive environment designs;
• A darker, more visceral artistic style inspired by the Diablo series.

The camera tweaks, in particular, should come as a welcome relief due to the frequent complaints about cluttered screens and unseen threats. With this quality of life change, players should find it much easier to follow the action. It would also make it easier to appreciate the rich new style as they play through the campaign or pursue the latest challenges.

New Ways to rising

There are some major gameplay changes coming as well, starting with the class system. The core seven classes will remain, but they will all undergo a yet unspecified rework. What’s more, characters in the new campaign will be able to choose between 19 brand-new Ascendancy classes. Whether they will also be accessed through the Labyrinth or some new activity is also unclear at this point. However, the developers have shown off some of those classes in the previews:

• The Tactician can deploy siege weapons and traps;
• The Beastmaster comes with animal familairs and an empowered shapeshifting ability;
• The Atmost has power over the weather;
• The Marauder and the Reaver are both highly aggressive melee classes.

Skills and Gear

The class changes will be further reinforced by the overhauled Skill Gem system. Previously, selecting Skill and Support Gems could be an exercise in frustration due to the variable amount of gem sockets on equipment. With this update, all items with the same base will have a set number of sockets. Even more impactfully, Support Gems will not use those sockets, instead of being attached to Skill Gems directly. Each Skill Gem will have six slots, making it possible to raise previously underrated skills to new heights. As a result, players will have many more options while finding it much easier to create their builds.

It should also nicely augment the gearing update. The developers have promised to transform the entire gear progression from the start of the game, adding extra base types and modifying those already in the game. Together with the gem changes, this rework should give players many more viable choices for Exalted Orb-based upgrades.

There is no known release date for Path of Exile 2. Although it has been teased for 2021 before, the COVID-19 pandemic and other related difficulties appear to have pushed it back. Despite those problems, the developers continue to add new content that should remain available long after the sequel comes out. In the meantime, players can continue to sharpen their skills with help from coaches, collect lucrative Chaos Orbs, or work towards Full Atlas Completion. After all, they can rest assured that their efforts won’t be wasted when Wraeclast’s story resumes.