Grinding Gear Games
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Path of Exile prepares to make some big announcements at next week’s ExileCon
Grinding Gear Games is preparing to make significant announcements regarding Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2 at their upcoming ExileCon event on November 6th. The studio has indicated that expansion announcements are expected, with trailers and web pages to be released concurrently with the keynote address.
Jordan Thomas, director of BioShock 2, played Path of Exile for over 7,000 hours while working on co-op horror game The Blackout Club: 'I was essentially awake all the time'
Director Jordan Thomas, known for BioShock 2 and The Blackout Club, revealed he played Path of Exile for over 7,000 hours during The Blackout Club's development as a stress reliever. Thomas discussed his gaming history, including early influences like Commander Keen and his work on Thief: Deadly Shadows and BioShock 2, and shared his current gaming habits, which include Hellraiser: Revival and REPO.
Ex-Marathon and Valorant lead has 3,400 hours in Path of Exile, says it's "the most freeform version" of…
Joe Ziegler, known for his work on Valorant and Marathon, expresses his deep appreciation for Path of Exile, citing over 3,400 hours played and praising its unparalleled buildcrafting freedom. While the author finds comfort in the Diablo series, Ziegler highlights Path of Exile's experimental depth as a key differentiator in the ARPG genre.
'There were a lot of disagreements across the place': Former Marathon director Joe Ziegler on leading Bungie's extraction shooter, playing Path of Exile for 3,437 hours, and why he'll never uninstall Kingdom Hearts
Former Marathon director Joe Ziegler discusses his extensive gaming habits, including thousands of hours in Path of Exile and Destiny 2, and his enduring love for Kingdom Hearts. He also touches on his experiences at Bungie, the challenges of leading the Marathon project, and his appreciation for the social aspects of games like World of Warcraft.
Minecraft Dungeons 2 is now playable on Steam Deck, and the blocky ARPG is a perfect fit
Minecraft Dungeons 2 is now playable on Steam Deck following a new update from Mojang, which also increased the maximum Emerald storage cap. While the game has not yet achieved full Steam Deck verification, it is considered a good fit for the handheld ARPG experience.
Diablo 5 "won't be ready for spring 2029," Path of Exile co-creator says, and "Blizzard money"…
Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson believes Diablo 5, targeting a spring 2029 release, is unlikely to meet its deadline. He estimates the game has only been a central priority for about five months, suggesting a three-year development window is tight for an RPG of its scope, even with Blizzard's resources. Wilson's analysis suggests delays are probable, a common occurrence in game development.
Diablo 5 puts buildcrafting ahead of execution, following "the core tenet of ARPGs"
Diablo 5 Game Director Joe Shely stated that the upcoming RPG will prioritize buildcrafting and strategic planning over moment-to-moment execution, aligning with the ethos of older Diablo titles. This approach aims to ensure any challenge can be overcome with the right build, a sentiment that has been positively received by figures like former Grinding Gear Games founder Chris Wilson.
Diablo 5 Will Offer a Balance of Planning and Moment-to-Moment Execution, Says Director
Diablo 5 senior game director Joe Shely stated that the game will balance moment-to-moment execution with planning and investment in character builds. This approach aims to satisfy fans of the Action RPG genre who prefer strategic character development, differentiating it from Diablo 3 and 4. The game is slated for a 2029 release.
Diablo 5 director responds to concerns the action RPG is more action than RPG: "Any challenge can be overcome with…
Diablo 5 senior game director Joe Shely addressed concerns that the upcoming action RPG might lean too heavily into action mechanics over RPG elements. He stated that while moment-to-moment execution will be present, the game will ultimately focus on planning and investment through builds, ensuring any challenge can be overcome with the right setup. This comes after Grinding Gear Games co-founder Chris Wilson expressed hope for a return to build-centric combat.
Path of Exile co-creator is "tentatively hopeful" Diablo 5 will stick the landing
Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson expresses tentative hope for Diablo 5, citing its announcement's return to the dark aesthetic and gameplay mechanics of Diablo 1 and 2, such as item sizing and inventory management. He believes ditching enemy scaling and embracing procedural generation are positive signs, but remains concerned about online-only play and combat system design.
'As Far as I'm Concerned, That's a Step in the Right Direction' — Path of Exile Dev Optimistic About Diablo 5
Chris Wilson, former co-founder of Grinding Gear Games, expressed optimism about Blizzard Entertainment's upcoming Diablo 5. While the game is not set to release until Spring 2029, Wilson views its announcement as a positive step for the Action RPG genre.
Diablo 4's 30th anniversary event is "pretty distasteful," Path of Exile co-creator says: "Games should have respect for their core storylines"
Chris Wilson, co-creator of Path of Exile, has criticized Blizzard's handling of Diablo 4's future and its 30th-anniversary event, Season of Hell's Legacy. Wilson believes the strategy disrespects the game's core storylines and antagonists, citing the return of Deckard Cain and the casual treatment of Diablo himself as examples. He expresses tentative hope for Diablo 5.
Valve gives Path of Exile 2 the Steam Deck seal of approval, just in time for 1.0
Valve has officially classified Path of Exile 2 as Steam Deck Verified, just ahead of its full free-to-play launch on December 11. Grinding Gear Games also announced that pre-registrations have surpassed one million, unlocking milestone rewards. The game is noted as being more approachable than its predecessor and well-suited for handheld play.
Why Casual Gamers Are Drawn to Short, Reward-Heavy Games
This article analyzes the psychological design behind virtual currencies in games like Overwatch 2 and Path of Exile, explaining how they reduce the 'pain of paying' and encourage spending. It contrasts Blizzard's fixed-rate currency with Grinding Gear Games' player-driven orb economy, noting how these models influence player behavior and can extend beyond gaming into other digital products.
Path of Exile co-creator says using decoy assets to trick dataminers taught him it's a "pretty wasteful process," but is "very good" for trolling
Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson shared his experience with data mining, noting that while using decoy assets to mislead dataminers is a wasteful process, it can be effective for trolling. He discussed various methods developers use to mitigate data mining, ultimately suggesting that community salt and occasional developer jokes are the best approaches.
Inside Tencent's long-term strategy: live service, AI tools, and evergreen titles
Tencent's long-term strategy for its global games division centers on building sustainable communities through live service titles and evergreen IPs, alongside investing in high-quality talent and synergistic partnerships. The company is also embracing AI as a tool to enhance developer efficiency and iteration, rather than replace human roles, while navigating challenges in global integration and outsourcing.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 578: Gamescoming and Gamesgoing
The Massively OP Podcast episode 578 covers Gamescom announcements, including launch dates for Aion 2 and Path of Exile 2, and future content plans for Dune: Awakening. The hosts also discuss the shutdown of another WoW Classic server, Guild Wars 3's Asura, Star Citizen's delays, and Star Wars Galaxies hacking drama.
Path of Exile 2 answers questions about its upcoming Forbidden Rites league
Grinding Gear Games has released an FAQ addressing questions about the upcoming Forbidden Rites league for Path of Exile 2. The FAQ confirms details such as the availability of private leagues, the continuation of the current Runes of Aldur league until version 1.0, and that Trial of Chaos changes will not be exclusive to Forbidden Rites. Patch notes and item filter changes are expected later this week.
Reading the Meta: Which Skin Aesthetics Hold Community Favor Long-Term
This analysis explores the psychological design of virtual economies in live-service games, contrasting Blizzard's Overwatch 2 coin system with Grinding Gear Games' orb-based economy in Path of Exile. It argues that proprietary currencies reduce the 'pain of paying' and discusses how these principles have influenced other digital sectors like crypto and loyalty programs.
Path of Exile 2's campaign finale includes "more than one act," but its Director is "being a bit coy" about what it actually is
Path of Exile 2 Game Director Jonathan Rogers revealed that the game's campaign finale will consist of more than one act, though details remain scarce. He also confirmed that elements from the removed interlude acts will be integrated into the endgame or quests, ensuring no development is wasted. Rogers expressed pride in the game's boss design and endgame, while acknowledging that new user understandability is an area for improvement.
