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

Diablo 4 has been around for a while now, just over a year since its big debut in June 2023. Blizzard has been hard at work making some major changes to the game’s core elements like itemization, leveling, and difficulty settings, not to mention the overall overhaul of the endgame structure.

Over this time, we’ve seen a full expansion pack roll out, six action-packed seasons, and a slew of updates that have tackled virtually every complaint players initially had. This means the Diablo 4 we’re playing in late 2024 is almost a different beast from what we experienced back when it launched last summer. But even during those early days, despite some of its flaws, Diablo 4 hit the right notes for me as an Action RPG fan.

However, it might be time for Diablo 4 to step aside for a bit. Path of Exile 2 is shaping up to be the first serious contender capable of enticing away Diablo’s more casual player base, which makes up the majority of its community.

As someone who loves the isometric, loot-driven action RPGs filled with dark tales about apocalyptic events and the decay of ancient faiths, this genre is my thing. I always keep tabs on new entries that catch my eye, but I often find myself drifting back to Diablo because other games sometimes lack that thrilling immediate gameplay experience I’m looking for.

Earlier this year, when Diablo 4 hit a rough patch, Last Epoch officially launched its 1.0 version. It was decent and ran smoothly enough, but it focused heavily on an endgame that didn’t quite engage me. It seemed like a game trying to please its hardcore fans with niche systems and solutions to problems most players might not even notice. So, unsurprisingly, it didn’t hold my attention, and it largely resonated with its die-hard followers instead.

This allowed Diablo 4 to maintain its dominant position in the ARPG scene, particularly among its vocal fanbase. But now, the stage is set for Path of Exile 2 to shake things up.

To be honest, I never viewed the first Path of Exile as a real competitor to Diablo. The idea of it capturing a significant portion of Blizzard’s massive, casual audience always seemed far-fetched to me—kind of like suggesting that Call of Duty could be dethroned by something akin to Arma.

Nevertheless, Path of Exile has stood the test of time. Like clockwork, I find myself downloading it every year or so, putting in six or seven hours before something pushes me away. I can deal with the tiny inventory space, the massive skill tree, the complex gem system, and even the tedious item identification process. But its combat always felt clunky and lacking in satisfaction.

Grinding Gear Games, the creators of PoE, acknowledged these weaknesses and made attempts to refine the combat mechanics in the past. This drew me back to the game only for me to quickly lose interest again.

Now, although I haven’t personally tried Path of Exile 2 yet, everything I’ve heard and seen about it suggests that Grinding Gear Games is seriously eyeing the Diablo crowd. They seem to be courting those who crave engaging action, a hint of loot, and the high production values found in blockbuster titles.

Since I spend a fair amount of time with action RPGs, I tend to pick up on subtleties like character movement, the prioritization of attack animations, and that satisfying sense of impact more keenly than most. From what I’ve observed, Path of Exile 2 seems to have made significant strides in these areas, getting closer than ever to the fluid combat that defines Diablo—particularly Diablo 4.

Sure, Path of Exile 2 will still be a complex beast compared to Diablo 4. The developers recently held a lengthy presentation highlighting numerous features and systems, most of which cater to the endgame, even as early access includes only a slice of the core campaign. They’re likely making it more accessible, yes, but it wouldn’t be wise for Grinding Gear Games to neglect its loyal fan base now.

I still notice some presentation issues that bothered me in the original crop up in the sequel, and I’m sure I’ll miss certain Diablo 4 elements that PoE 2 will lack. Yet, for the first time, I find myself eager to dive into its world, move my character, and experience the thrill of combat. Whether that’s enough to overlook the complexities, I’m not sure.

Putting my musings on combat precision aside, the anticipated release of Path of Exile 2 is a testament to the robust health of the ARPG subgenre. We’re long past the days of one game existing to take down another. There’s ample room for both games to thrive—and then some. That said, in the back of my mind, there’s a slight fear of becoming one of those fervent Path of Exile fans defending it against casual critics with a fervent, “No, you just don’t get it.”

Path of Exile 2 is set to launch on December 6 for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.