Path of Exile
News, coverage and analysis tracking Path of Exile across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Guild Wars 3 dev wants you to be able to take a break for months at a time and know you're "not going to be left behind"
ArenaNet studio head Colin Johanson believes the MMO genre is still thriving and that Guild Wars 3 aims to address common player concerns about time commitment. He emphasizes the need for games to allow meaningful progress in short sessions and for players to be able to take extended breaks without falling behind.
Everything we've gleaned about Diablo 5 since its BlizzCon 2026 reveal - a game that appears to be much more than Diablo 4.5
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed details for Diablo 5, scheduled for a spring 2029 release, indicating it will be a significant departure from Diablo 4. Set a century after Diablo 4, the game features a world fully conquered by Diablo, a more compact, procedurally generated landscape, and a focus on story-driven RPG elements with companions serving as vendors. The game will reintroduce features like Runewords and gear sets inspired by Diablo 2, and aims to offer more classes at launch than previous titles.
Diablo 5 gameplay details from BlizzCon: More classes than ever before, procedurally-generated dungeons, and Diablo…
Blizzard Entertainment revealed gameplay details for Diablo 5 at BlizzCon 2026, showcasing a return to procedurally-generated dungeons and open-world regions, more classes than previous titles including a new 'plague knight', and a story set 100 years after Diablo 4. The game is slated for a spring 2029 release window and aims to address player feedback from Diablo 4.
Betawatch: Monsters & Memories plunges testers into The Deep, Loftia begins pre-registrations, and ArcheAge S is on its way next year
Several MMORPGs are entering new testing phases or preparing for launch. Monsters & Memories is plunging testers into 'The Deep' ahead of its early access, while Loftia has begun pre-registrations. ArcheAge S is slated for a Q2 2027 release, with gameplay previews coming soon. Legends of Aria Eternal and Valheim have officially launched, while Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen has experienced layoffs.
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.
Saber CCO Tim Willits is still bullish on AI, but concerned about its environmental impact: 'Elon wants to put servers in space. That could be the answer, right?'
Saber Interactive CCO Tim Willits expressed optimism about AI in game development but voiced significant concerns regarding its environmental impact, citing data center energy consumption. He humorously suggested Elon Musk's idea of space-based servers as a potential solution. The discussion also touched upon Saber's use of AI in 'Rideshare Stimulator' and a past controversy involving a writer.
Betawatch: ArcheAge Chronicles plans a network test for next weekend
ArcheAge Chronicles is planning a network test for September 12th, continuing its development journey. The article also rounds up other MMO news, including updates on Guild Wars 3, Farhaven, and Aion 2, alongside a lengthy list of games currently in various stages of testing and development.
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.
No Rest for the Wicked 1.0 has been delayed: "We're close, but close isn't good enough"
Moon Studios has announced a delay for No Rest for the Wicked 1.0, pushing its release from October 2026 to March 2027 to ensure a higher standard of polish. The developer cited the need for extra time to improve performance, refine the class system, and fix bugs. The team plans to conduct further closed and open beta tests, including a final open PTR in December, to involve the community in shaping the full release.
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.
"People stopped making games like this": Former Path of Exile boss sticks up for one of the most underrated…
Former Path of Exile boss Chris Wilson praises Legend of Grimrock as a revival of classic dungeon crawler mechanics that have fallen out of vogue. He laments that games like this are no longer commonly made, with the genre's popularity waning after the advent of full 3D environments and titles like Doom and Diablo.
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.
MMO Week in Review: Gamescom, Asura, and Ascension
Gamescom was the dominant event this week, bringing news for numerous MMOs including launch dates for Aion 2 and Path of Exile 2, and trailers for Dune Awakening, Sea of Remnants, and Cinder City. Star Citizen's Squadron 42 received another delay into 2027, while Guild Wars 3 revealed its Asura, and Blizzard shut down another World of Warcraft private server. Other news included updates for Throne and Liberty, Ultima Online, and The Division 2, alongside discussions on game design, AI training lawsuits, and the shutdown of the Project Ascension World of Warcraft emulator.
Path of Exile 2's Director admits, "We had a lot of arrogance about how long we thought it would take"
Path of Exile 2 is set to launch on December 11, transitioning to a free-to-play model on Steam. Game Director Jonathan Rogers admitted that Grinding Gear Games underestimated the development time, particularly for the endgame and unique items, due to the game being fundamentally different from its predecessor. The team is now confident that the core elements are in a satisfactory state for the 1.0 launch.
Betawatch: Aion 2 plans October global debut, Guild Wars 3 reveals gremlins
Several games are nearing their global launches or entering new testing phases. Aion 2 is set for a worldwide debut on October 5th, while Path of Exile 2 will officially launch out of early access in December. Guild Wars 3 has revealed more about its gremlin-like Asura characters, and Squadron 42 has been delayed again, now targeting 2027.
Path of Exile 2's first event league goes 'oops, all bosses' and reworks its worst mode so sane people…
Grinding Gear Games is launching the first event league for Path of Exile 2, titled Forbidden Rites, on September 4. This mini-league introduces Ritual altars with boss encounters during the campaign and a reworked Trial of Chaos endgame activity. The full 1.0 release of Path of Exile 2 is scheduled for December 11.
Path of Exile 2's new 'bonus season' adds more than most ARPGs' major updates
Grinding Gear Games is launching a new 'mini-season' for Path of Exile 2 called 'Forbidden Rites' on September 4th, featuring an economy reset and significant updates. This update includes reworks to core mechanics, improvements to the Ritual system, and new endgame content like empowered Rituals and the Sacred Bloom mechanic. The Trial of Chaos and Fortress endgame elements have also been overhauled, with Abyss and Expeditions receiving new endgame features.
