Early Access Launch Draws Massive Crowds and Sparks Balancing Debates

Grinding Gear Games' action RPG sequel sees record-breaking player numbers while early nerfs and difficulty adjustments divide its community.

Path of Exile 2's early access debuted on December 6, quickly peaking at over 578,000 concurrent players on Steam, making it one of 2024's most successful launches.
The game introduced a challenging campaign and revamped mechanics, earning praise for its depth but also criticism for its steep difficulty curve and underwhelming loot rewards.
Grinding Gear Games has implemented several early nerfs to overpowered skills like Supercharged Slam and Gas Cloud explosions, aiming to maintain balance but frustrating some players who feel creativity is being stifled.
Community feedback is split, with some players advocating for the current difficulty to remain as a defining feature, while others call for adjustments to make the game more accessible and rewarding.
Despite these debates, Path of Exile 2 has received largely positive reviews on Steam, with players lauding its gameplay innovations and potential for long-term growth.