Path of Exile 2 Devs Implement Urgent Fixes Amid 'Mostly Negative' Steam Reviews

Grinding Gear Games (GGG), the developers behind Path of Exile 2, have issued additional emergency updates to address the backlash following the Dawn of the Hunt expansion. The update, which was released earlier this month, introduced the new Huntress class, five ascension classes (Ritualist, Amazon, Smith of Kitava, Tactician, and Lich), over 100 new unique items, and expanded crafting options. However, it also brought significant nerfs that slowed the game's pace, leading to a surge in negative reviews on Steam, dropping the game's rating to 'mostly negative.'

The community expressed frustration over the game becoming a "total slog" with longer boss fights, reduced skill damage, and stability issues. Players felt the game was punishing and unrewarding, with many reviews highlighting the slow gameplay, large map sizes, and forced combo mechanics that contrasted with the freedom typically enjoyed in action RPGs.

In response, GGG has rolled out patch 0.2.0e, set to release on April 11, aiming to address these concerns. The update includes:

Path of Exile 2 Update 0.2.0e Patch Notes

Monster Speed Changes

To alleviate the feeling of being overwhelmed by monsters, GGG has made targeted adjustments act by act, and more general changes such as removing interrupt events on fast-attacking human monsters and eliminating the Haste Aura modifier from already fast monsters.

Act 1

Adjustments include altering the behavior of Werewolf and Tendril Prowlers, reducing the life and damage of Hungering Stalkers, and decreasing the number of Bloom Serpents and Venomous Crabs. Cultists in Freythorn have had their interrupt events removed and now walk after melee actions, while Blood Cretins' Blood Pools have a shorter duration.

Act 2

Boulder Ants in Titan Valley have been replaced with Risen Maraketh, and Faridun's interrupt events have been removed.

Act 3

Changes include modifications to Diretusk Boar and Antlion Charger behaviors, adjustments to the Lost City and Azak Bog monster compositions, and a fix for Slitherspitter's poison spray damage type. Additionally, GGG has identified and plans to address issues with inconsistent monster density in future patches.

Boss Changes

Specific changes to bosses include reducing the number and size of Chaos Rains in the Viper Napuatzi fight, and several tweaks to Uxmal and Xyclucian to make their fights less frustrating and more visible.

Player Minion Changes

Minion revive timers have been adjusted to mitigate the issue of repeated resets, and changes to Bind Spectre and Tame Beast gems allow for easier reuse and navigation through gaps.

Other Player Balance

Rally support is now applicable to any melee attack, Glory is no longer consumed if interrupted, and a bug with the Ritualist's Blood Boils has been fixed.

Crafting Changes

All mods have been added to runes for caster weapons, and Renly's shop now offers a Blank rune that can be forged into any elemental rune. Artificers Orbs are now available at fixed locations.

Performance Improvements

Ground foliage optimization has been implemented to improve performance across various areas.

0.2.0E Deployment Timeline

The patch is scheduled for deployment at 10AM NZT, with additional changes planned for after the weekend.

Charm Changes

Charm slots on belts are now determined by implicit mods based on area level, with Divine Orbs allowing rerolls. Several charm-related issues have been fixed, and charm mods have been enhanced.

Stash Tab Affinities

New affinities have been added for Socketables, Fragments, Breach, Expedition, and Ritual items, with Charms now able to be stored in the Flask stash tab or any tab with the Flask affinity.

Atlas Bookmarks

Players can now bookmark locations on their atlas for easy navigation, with up to 16 bookmarks available and the ability to view them under the legend.

These changes aim to address the community's concerns and restore a more enjoyable gameplay experience. Whether these updates will be sufficient to improve the game's reception remains to be seen, but GGG's commitment to continuous improvement is evident. Path of Exile 2's launch was highly successful, though it brought challenges that have also impacted Path of Exile 1's development, highlighting the complexities of managing a large and passionate player base.