Game Director Reveals Path of Exile 2’s Inspirations: From Elden Ring to Civilization 5

Path of Exile 2’s director, Jonathan Rogers, shares an interesting blend of inspirations steering the game’s development, drawing from iconic titles like Elden Ring for its gripping boss battles, and Civilization V for its intricate end-game map designs.

This theme became apparent during a recent end-game presentation, followed by an in-depth discussion with the press. The conversation kicked off after showcasing a dramatic story boss encounter, where players face a gigantic machine equipped with over a dozen unique attacks across several phases. During the press interview, when asked about the broader influences, Rogers shared his perspective.

“To pinpoint a single game as our sole inspiration would be challenging because we draw from a vast array of sources,” he explained. “Take the in-game map, for instance. I told our artists I wanted it to emulate Civilization V! It’s not a typical influence you’d expect in an ARPG, but inspiration can spring from anywhere, making it tough to list them all.”

“Recent action titles, especially, have influenced our combat design, thanks to games like Elden Ring,” he continued. “I enjoy a bit of everything across genres; I don’t limit myself to just ARPGs. Oddly enough, single-player action games are my top pick. They’re what I love most and where I find a treasure trove of ideas for boss designs. In Path of Exile 2, we aim for our bosses to match the quality seen in top-tier action games. They involve intricate mechanics, a plethora of abilities, and significant effort to craft. Additionally, we’ve integrated elements like dodge rolling, adding layers of complexity typical in action games. Balancing the game’s action and stat elements proves quite challenging.”

Our preview of PoE 2 highlights the admirable boss design, which you can delve into more deeply in our full review. Path of Exile 2 is gearing up for a December 6 release, available on both PC and console.