"PoE2: Future Updates to Shift Focus from New Classes"

In the evolving landscape of *Path of Exile 2*, game director Jonathan Rogers has made it clear that new classes will not be the centerpiece of future updates. This strategic shift stems from lessons learned during the development cycle and aims to ensure more consistent and timely content delivery to the game's eager player base.

Path of Exile 2 New Characters Might Not Be Introduced Every Patch

You Can Expect More Ascendancies Instead

During a recent Q&A session, Rogers explained that the development of new classes can cause significant delays in patch releases. He noted, I would like it if every release would have a class, but I would say that we actually learned something during the production of this cycle, which is that it was a mistake to have a class as a wedge for the development of your expansion. The introduction of the Huntress class, for example, led to multiple shifts in the release date, extending the development timeline beyond initial expectations.

Rogers emphasized the importance of having fixed release dates over promising new classes. He stated, We have to have the Huntress in the next patch, so therefore, the date had to float, and that meant that this expansion ended up taking a lot longer than what we had hoped. Consequently, he refrained from committing to a new class in the next expansion to maintain a stable release schedule.

Understanding the community's desire for frequent updates, Rogers highlighted the need for timely content. He remarked, Players really do want to see forward progress, and they don’t want to be waiting six to nine months before they see a big update. Therefore, instead of new classes, the focus will shift to delivering new Ascendancies in each upcoming patch. Rogers also expressed enthusiasm for adding more classes post-Early Access, stating, As I said, Ascendancies, we can definitely do; maybe even after release, we continue to add even more classes as I’m certainly keen to add more.

Path of Exile 2 Dawn of the Hunt Brings More Changes to Endgame

Promising the End to Be A Lot Harder

Accompanying the Huntress, the upcoming patch will introduce over 100 new skills, support gems, and unique gear tailored for midgame and endgame scenarios. Rogers assures that these changes aim to make bosses significantly more challenging. He explained the necessity to balance the power progression, saying, There are certainly some things that are going to have to be nerfed because they’re completely trivializing certain mechanics. The goal is to extend the time it takes for players to reach overpowering levels, yet ensure they can eventually achieve such heights.

Rogers expressed disappointment at how quickly some players defeated Pinnacle Bosses, citing an instance where a boss was defeated in just fourteen seconds. He envisions a different experience for future encounters, stating, The first time you fight a Pinnacle Boss, it’s going to be a hard fight and crazy. But as you fight the boss more times and you get more items and you get to optimize your build and stuff, you can get to the point where you kill the boss in fourteen seconds. It’s just that it’s not your first experience. The balance changes are designed to slow down the power climb, ensuring that the journey to becoming almighty feels rewarding and challenging.

Path of Exile 2 Game Director is Happy With Its Ruthless Difficulty

Things Aren’t Easier, You Just Got Better

The difficulty of *Path of Exile 2's* campaign has sparked diverse opinions among players. Rogers expressed satisfaction with the current difficulty level, noting that many complaints stemmed from players comparing it to the previous game. He believes that as players become more familiar with the new mechanics, the game will feel less challenging. Rogers stated, I don’t think we’re gonna get nearly as many complaints about it this time, and that’s because once you know how to play, you’re going to find the experience a lot easier. He acknowledged that if the feedback doesn't change, they would reassess the difficulty, but he remains optimistic about the community's adaptation to the game's new challenges.

Rogers concluded by addressing the common misconception about balance changes, saying, People are often surprised. A lot of the times what happens is that the second time people play through the game, they will talk about how they (GGG) must have changed the balance, but the actual reality is that they just got better at the game. This insight underlines the importance of player skill development in shaping the game experience.