PoE2 Shifts Focus from New Classes

Path of Exile 2's game director has clarified that future updates won't prioritize introducing new character classes. Discover the rationale behind this strategic shift and insights into the game's evolving design philosophy.

Future Path of Exile 2 Updates May Not Feature Regular Class Additions

Expanded Ascendancy Options to Take Center Stage

In a recent Q&A session, Game Director Jonathan Rogers revealed that Path of Exile 2's development roadmap won't guarantee new classes in upcoming patches due to the unpredictable nature of class development cycles.

Addressing community expectations about regular class introductions, Rogers admitted: While we'd love to deliver new classes with every expansion, we've learned that making them a patch requirement creates development bottlenecks. He elaborated, During this production cycle, we realized tying expansions to class releases was a mistake that compromised our scheduling flexibility.

The director explained how focusing on including the Huntress in the next update forced repeated deadline extensions. Having the Huntress as a mandatory feature meant our release date kept shifting, ultimately delaying this expansion far beyond our initial projections, Rogers noted.

Moving forward, we're prioritizing fixed release schedules over unpredictable class development timelines, Rogers stated, clarifying that while future classes remain possible, they won't be commitment-driven. Though I'd personally welcome new classes in upcoming expansions, I can't make promises that would jeopardize our ability to set firm release dates.

The Dawn of the Hunt development experience shaped this policy change, with Rogers emphasizing players' preference for frequent, reliable updates over extended waits for major features. Our community wants visible progress every few months, not six-to-nine month gaps between substantial updates, he observed.

Consistent content delivery takes precedence now, making class releases inherently less predictable, Rogers explained. However, he offered reassurance: We'll absolutely continue expanding Ascendancy options with each update, and additional classes remain possible even post-launch. I'm personally enthusiastic about introducing more character options when circumstances permit.

Dawn of the Hunt Overhauls Path of Exile 2's Endgame Experience

Significant Challenge Increases Coming to Late-Game Content

The upcoming Dawn of the Hunt update introduces over 100 new skills, support gems, and unique items focused on mid-to-late game progression. These changes accompany GGG's commitment to significantly increase endgame difficulty. Rogers acknowledged the need to extend the journey before characters reach game-breaking power levels, while ensuring players can eventually achieve that fantasy.

Certain builds currently bypass mechanics too easily, reaching absurd power spikes prematurely, Rogers noted. While ultimate power should remain attainable, players shouldn't trivialize content before completing their initial progression.

Rogers expressed disappointment at how quickly Pinnacle Bosses fell to optimized builds, citing one being defeated in just 14 seconds. Ideally, these encounters should present immense challenges when first attempted, with speed clearing only becoming possible after significant character development, he explained.

The development team aims to rebalance progression systems to preserve that aspirational power fantasy while extending the journey to achieve it. Current power acquisition has deviated from our vision, Rogers admitted. Our adjustments focus on maintaining that godlike feeling, just not as an immediate starting point.

Path of Exile 2's Director Defends Campaign Difficulty Balance

Perceived Challenge Shifts With Player Experience

Addressing mixed feedback about campaign difficulty, Rogers expressed satisfaction with the current balance. He attributed differing perceptions to veteran players comparing their PoE1 experience with their initial PoE2 attempts. Player skill progression naturally makes subsequent playthroughs feel easier, often mistaken for balance adjustments, he noted.

The director remains optimistic about the current tuning: We anticipate fewer complaints as players adapt to PoE2's systems. If unexpected issues emerge, we'll address them, but initial reactions often change with experience. Rogers concluded with an industry insight: Frequently, players returning for second playthroughs assume we've tweaked the difficulty, when in reality, they've simply improved at the game.