Path of Exile 2 Emerges as Diablo 4’s First True Rival, Arriving at an Opportune Moment for Blizzard

More than a year has swirled by since Diablo 4 made its grand debut back in June, 2023. Over these months, Blizzard has rolled out a slew of pivotal tweaks to keep the game fresh and engaging. They’ve revamped itemization, polished up the leveling journey, played with difficulty settings, and most dramatically, reshaped the endgame experience.

Players have been treated to a full expansion, six thrilling seasons, and numerous updates that tackled nearly all the grievances that the community had voiced. Diablo 4, as it stands in late 2024, feels like quite a different beast from the version we met the previous summer. Despite that, even the much-criticized original version stole my heart, primarily because it ticked all the right boxes that I cherish in an ARPG.

Yet, it seems the moment has come for Diablo 4 to take a pause and catch its breath. Path of Exile 2 is gearing up to be the first serious contender since Diablo 4’s launch, poised to woo away some of its more casual player base, those who form the backbone of the gaming audience.

The genre of isometric action RPGs, steeped in loot-chasing and grim tales of apocalyptic worlds and corrupted faiths, has always been my go-to. I eagerly follow announcements of new entries in this space. Still, more often than not, I’ve found myself drifting away, disappointed by the gameplay execution, inevitably wending my way back to Diablo.

Earlier this year, when Diablo 4 hit one of its roughest patches, Last Epoch arrived with its 1.0 launch. It was competent, felt decent, but was clearly designed with an endgame focus that never really hooked me. It seemed crafted for its core die-hard fans, solving niche problems that many players wouldn’t even recognize. It flickered and faded, keeping only its most devoted followers engaged.

With Blizzard working its magic to refine Diablo 4, it remains the darling of the ARPG community, satisfying even the loudest voices within. However, its crown may soon face a challenge with Path of Exile 2 looming on the horizon.

Admittedly, I never viewed the original Path of Exile as a genuine threat to Diablo. The idea that it might make any substantive impact on Blizzard’s casual-loving audience seemed as implausible as claiming Call of Duty would be dethroned by an Arma game.

Nonetheless, Path of Exile has stood resilient over the years, prompting me to sporadically return, indulging in a handful of hours before moving on. I could tolerate its restrictive inventory, its sprawling passive skill tree, the convoluted gem system, and even the fussiness of item identification. Yet, the cumbersome and unrewarding combat was always the deal-breaker for me.

Grinding Gear Games, aware of this shortcoming, attempted a revamp some years ago, motivating me to give it another shot. Alas, I quickly fell back into abandoning it.

I haven’t yet dived into Path of Exile 2, but from everything we’ve been hearing, watching, and reading about the upcoming release, it seems Grinding Gear Games is finally setting its sights on the Diablo crowd—the folks who crave thrilling action, a touch of loot, coupled with a rich production quality typical of big-name titles.

As an ARPG enthusiast, I scrutinize details like character motion, attack animations, and overall combat dynamics more than most might. This is where I see tremendous progress, aligning closer to Diablo’s gameplay—especially the rhythm of Diablo 4.

Sure, Path of Exile 2 is bound to be more intricate than Diablo 4. The developers have outlined many features dedicated mainly to the endgame, albeit the early access only hints at part of the main campaign. They’re making it more inviting for newcomers, but it would be unwise for Grinding Gear Games to sideline their loyal core audience now.

Admittedly, a few presentational quirks that irked me about PoE remain in its sequel. I’ll pine for certain familiar Diablo 4 elements that PoE2 might not embrace. But the eagerness to immerse myself in Path of Exile 2, to move through its world, revel in its combat—those temptations are real. Could this thrill help me overlook the complexities? I’m not sure yet.

Regardless of my personal opinions on combat intricacies, the buzzing excitement surrounding Path of Exile 2 underscores the vibrant health of this subgenre. We’re well past the era of Game X existing purely to overshadow Game Y. In truth, I love seeing both thrive, and there’s certainly room for more entrants. Quietly though, I harbor a fear that I may morph into one of those Path of Exile enthusiasts who passionately defend the game, launching into long-winded tirades whenever a casual observer raises an eyebrow—tirades that typically begin with, “You just don’t get it.”

Mark your calendars: Path of Exile 2 arrives on December 6 for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.