Path of Exile 2’s Early Access: A Controversial Yet Promising Reward for Loyal Gamers

If you’ve ever delved into the gaming world, you’ve probably caught wind of Path of Exile and its famously massive passive skill tree. While the game’s sheer complexity might be daunting for newcomers, what stands out is its reputation for being one of the few free-to-play titles that doesn’t exploit its player base.

Path of Exile continually gets praised for its fair approach to the free-to-play model. By offering both gameplay options and cosmetic features for purchase, it enhances the experience without compromising the core of what makes the game enjoyable.

Now, having this knowledge doesn’t quite prevent you from doing a double-take at the price tags on the Path of Exile 2 supporter packs. They start at a somewhat reasonable $30 but can soar to an astonishing $480! Sure, some packs include physical goodies, but even if you exclude those, the price still exceeds what many similar games would charge.

These pricing choices are, of course, set by Grinding Gear Games. They wouldn’t be asking those amounts if they didn’t have faith that people would buy them. Over the years, they’ve honed their monetization strategy with Path of Exile, and they’re confident there’s a market for these premium bundles.

Interestingly, what might have flown under the radar is how GGG is rewarding existing players for their loyalty. If you’ve spent $480 or more on microtransactions in Path of Exile, you’re eligible for an early access key to the sequel. While $480 isn’t pocket change, consider this: the game has been out for ten years. That breaks down to about $48 annually or just $4 a month—not too steep when you think about it in those terms.

Initially, this offer might not seem all that compelling, yet it appreciates the investments long-time players have made. The original Path of Exile is here to stay, ensuring players continue to enjoy their purchases. Meanwhile, they receive an incentive to explore the sequel at no extra cost. This both rewards dedicated players and introduces a fresh pathway to keep them engaged with GGG’s games. It’s a scenario where everybody seems to benefit.

In the end, this is a strategic move by GGG, reinforcing their image as a developer that’s genuinely fair with its monetization methods. Over the years of examining Path of Exile’s monetization, you’d find several instances where they went above and beyond for their community, often leaving you with the thought, “They didn’t really have to do this,” which, arguably, is precisely what the developers aim for.

This serves as a valuable lesson for many developers who prioritize profit over player satisfaction.