Path of Exile 2 Emerges as Diablo 4’s First Major Rival, Benefiting from Blizzard’s Quiet Phase

Diablo 4 has been around for over a year now. Since its release in June 2023, Blizzard has rolled out some major updates, tweaking the game’s itemization, leveling process, difficulty settings, and completely revamping its endgame structure.

Over time, the game has seen one full expansion, six seasons, and numerous updates that have addressed most of the issues players initially had. Now, in late 2024, Diablo 4 feels significantly different from the title that launched the year before. Yet, even before all these changes, it was my top pick among ARPGs. That initial version, despite some criticisms, hit all the right notes for what I value in these types of games.

However, it’s time for Diablo 4 to share the limelight. Path of Exile 2 is on the horizon, and it seems poised to attract Diablo 4’s casual player base—the majority of its audience.

I have a soft spot for this kind of action RPG—those isometric, loot-centric adventures that delve into dark narratives about apocalyptic worlds and the erosion of faith. I get excited when they’re announced, but I often find myself drifting away sooner than expected, usually because the gameplay doesn’t hold up over time. That’s when I find myself gravitating back to Diablo.

Earlier this year, just when Diablo 4 hit a rocky patch, Last Epoch launched its 1.0 version. It was decent, I guess. The gameplay was solid but it leaned heavily towards an endgame I never quite reached or cared for. It seemed tailor-made for die-hard fans, addressing issues that average players might not even notice. It made its splash and moved on, mainly keeping the hardcore contingent engaged.

Thus, Diablo 4 remained the reigning champion among the ardent ARPG community. Blizzard’s efforts clearly resonated with its most vocal fans. But now, Path of Exile 2 is set to challenge this status quo.

To be honest, I never saw the original Path of Exile as a direct competitor to Diablo. The idea that it could disrupt Blizzard’s large, casual fanbase seemed unlikely—like suggesting Arma could dethrone Call of Duty.

Nonetheless, Path of Exile has consistently maintained its presence. Every so often, I’d give it another go, spending around six or seven hours before abandoning it. I tolerated its clunky inventory, the overwhelmingly vast skill tree, the convoluted gem system, and even its approach to item identification. But, I just couldn’t get past the sluggish and unsatisfying combat.

Grinding Gear Games, the developer, acknowledged this flaw and tried to amend it a few years back. It was enough for me to reinstall it, albeit briefly before I shelved it once more.

I haven’t yet tried Path of Exile 2, but from the sneak peeks and previews, it seems Grinding Gear Games is aiming to capture the Diablo crowd—players who crave that satisfying action, a sprinkle of loot, and the high production values typical of blockbuster titles.

Being deeply entrenched in the ARPG scene, I notice the finer details like character movement, attack animation fluidity, and the feel of combat more keenly than most. That’s where Path of Exile 2 seems to have made significant strides, aligning more closely with the smooth combat flow that Diablo 4 excels in.

Mind you, Path of Exile 2 is still set to be more intricate than Diablo 4. Recently, the developers spent over an hour diving into its features and systems, primarily targeting the endgame. This was despite the fact that the early access build only covers part of the core campaign. While it definitely appears more user-friendly, it’s unlikely that GGG would abandon its core fan base.

I still see a few presentation quirks in Path of Exile 2 that have bothered me in the past. And I’ll probably long for some Diablo 4 features in PoE2 that will likely never be replicated. Yet, this time, I genuinely look forward to jumping in: navigating its world, engaging in combat, feeling the impact. Whether that will be enough for me to overlook its complexity is something I’m unsure of.

Setting my preferences for combat aside, it’s difficult not to view the launch of Path of Exile 2 as a testament to the vibrant health of the ARPG subgenre. We’ve moved past the need for one game to completely overshadow another. I cherish and root for both to thrive, and there’s still room for more to join the fray. Secretly, I worry I might become one of those passionate PoE enthusiasts who passionately defend their game, starting every debate with a determined “No, you don’t understand.”

Path of Exile 2 is slated for release on December 6 on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.