PoE2: Future Updates to Shift Focus from New Classes

In the world of *Path of Exile 2*, the excitement surrounding new classes has always been a significant draw for players. However, the game's director, Jonathan Rogers, has announced a shift in focus that might surprise many fans. During a recent Q&A session, Rogers explained that the development team has decided that new classes will no longer be the centerpiece of major updates moving forward. This decision stems from the unpredictable nature of class development and the desire to deliver updates more frequently to the community.

You Can Expect More Ascendancies Instead

Rogers highlighted the challenges faced during the development of the latest expansion, "Dawn of the Hunt." He admitted that focusing on introducing the Huntress class led to multiple delays, as the release date had to be adjusted to ensure the class was ready. "I would like it if every release would have a class, but I would say that we actually learned something during the production of this cycle, which is that it was a mistake to have a class as a wedge for the development of your expansion," Rogers stated. He emphasized the importance of a fixed release schedule over the unpredictability of class development, saying, "While I’m very keen to have a class in the next expansion, I’m not going to promise that because that would mean we can’t fix the date anymore."

Understanding the community's desire for regular updates, Rogers assured players that new Ascendancies would be a consistent feature in upcoming patches. He also expressed his enthusiasm for adding more classes even after the Early Access phase, stating, "As I said, Ascendancies, we can definitely do; maybe even after release, we continue to add even more classes as I’m certainly keen to add more."

Path of Exile 2 Dawn of the Hunt Brings More Changes to Endgame

Promising the End to Be A Lot Harder

Alongside the focus shift from classes, the upcoming "Dawn of the Hunt" patch introduces significant changes to the game's endgame. Rogers mentioned that over 100 new skills, support gems, and unique gear pieces will be added, all designed to enhance the midgame and endgame experience. A key aspect of these changes is the promise of tougher bosses. "There are certainly some things that are going to have to be nerfed because they’re completely trivializing certain mechanics," Rogers noted, aiming to extend the time players take to reach peak power levels.

Rogers expressed disappointment in how quickly players were defeating Pinnacle Bosses, with some being taken down in mere seconds. He envisions a scenario where the first encounter with a Pinnacle Boss is a challenging and memorable experience. "The first time you fight a Pinnacle Boss, it’s going to be a hard fight and crazy. But as you fight the boss more times and you get more items and you get to optimize your build and stuff, you can get to the point where you kill the boss in fourteen seconds. It’s just that it’s not your first experience," he explained. The balance changes are focused on slowing down the power progression, ensuring that players feel powerful but not immediately.

Path of Exile 2 Game Director is Happy With Its "Ruthless" Difficulty

Things Aren’t Easier, You Just Got Better

The difficulty of *Path of Exile 2*'s campaign has sparked debate among players, with opinions split on whether it's too easy or too hard. Rogers, however, is content with the current difficulty level and believes that player perceptions will evolve over time. He noted that many complaints stemmed from players comparing their experiences with the previous game without fully engaging with the new one. "I don’t think we’re gonna get nearly as many complaints about it this time, and that’s because once you know how to play, you’re going to find the experience a lot easier," Rogers said. He remains optimistic that as players become more familiar with the game, they will recognize their own improvement rather than attributing changes to game balance.