Path of Exile and Diablo have been linked since the former came out in 2013. Although a relative newcomer to the action RPG genre, the Grinding Gear Games project has since established itself as arguably the “better” game. Now, as GGG forges ahead with its sequel, Path of Exile 2 as Diablo 4 grapples with its fair share of difficulties, the parallels, though opposite, are hard to overlook. But, while Blizzard Entertainment’s problems stand to be GGG’s gains, the studio isn’t about to jump on the hate bandwagon.
In an interview with IGN, Jonathan Rogers, the director of Path of Exile, expressed his thoughts regarding Blizzard and still-ongoing struggles with Diablo 4, empathizing even with its rival studio. “It’s a tough. It’s a real tough situation to be in,” he remarked, acknowledging that running a live game with seasonal content is a daunting task – a lesson GGG has learned over the decade it has maintained Path of Exile.
Blizzard’s handling of the battle pass, class balance, and the lack of endgame content has attracted considerable but understandable criticism. Rogers acknowledges that the developers mean well. Yet, he admits that the learning curve has been steep. “I feel very bad for the developers, because I’m sure that they mean well, but yeah, it’s a hard lesson to learn,” he said.
Looking ahead to Path of Exile 2, GGG is taking notes from Diablo 4’s reception. Unlike its competitor’s approach of veering towards an “MMO path,” Path of Exile 2 is following a more Elden Ring style. This direction emphasizes more on action with a “hardcore” bent, eschewing cooldowns and rotational combat for immediate, situationally driven action. “We just want to make sure that we’re kind of going in that direction,” Rogers emphasized, pointing out that he prefers this action-oriented approach.
Path of Exile 2’s distinctive selling point, according to Rogers, is its focus on action and the quality of boss fights, which it plans to complement by an abundance of content. “There’s just a lot more going on with regard to the depth in Path of Exile,” he said. Chris Wilson, fellow director, also pointed to Path of Exile’s existing item system, which is “best in class,” providing a more complex and rewarding gameplay experience.
However, they don’t plan on rushing the game’s release. Rogers confirmed that the closed beta of Path of Exile 2, set for the next year, will run for an extended period, just like a league, to ensure that the game balance is just right at launch, a lesson learned from Diablo IV.
This critical feedback loop and engagement with the player base has been a hallmark of GGG, a team of ARPG enthusiasts. But, despite their own struggles, the team acknowledges that the Diablo IV developers are making concerted efforts to correct their course and believes they will succeed eventually.
Meanwhile, the players’ response to Diablo IV has been a mix of sympathy for the developers, criticism of Blizzard and its business strategies, and frustration with the game’s current issues. This perspective suggests a delicate balance that needs to be struck between managerial decision-making and understanding the needs and expectations of the player base.
At its core, the Diablo IV debacle serves as a valuable lesson for both developers and players alike. Blizzard’s struggles help underscore the importance of fine-tuning a game’s balance before its release and ensuring engaging seasonal content.
For players, Diablo 4 proves the critical role multiple pre-launch tests play in shaping a game’s polishing, and evolution, and in holding developers accountable.
As GGG gears up for the release of Path of Exile 2, these lessons will undoubtedly inform its development process. While the issues Diablo 4 faces are certainly a cause for concern, there’s an overwhelming sense of optimism that Blizzard can turn things around.
Who knows? By the time that Path of Exile 2 is out, Blizzard has steadied the ship. By then, GGG won’t have to feel sorry for the Diablo 4 development team.
Either way, the real winners here are the fans of the genre. With Path of Exile setting the gold standard and Diablo 4 trying its best to exceed expectations, throwing Path of Exile 2 inside the same ring forces the rest to keep up, elevating the gameplay experience of all games even further.
