Image: Grinding Gear Games
Path of Exile 2’s early access livestream has recapped all of its launch content.
Developer Grinding Gear Games’ long-awaited action-RPG Path of Exile 2 is inching closer to its early access launch on December 6, 2024. In a livestream held earlier today, the developer recapped everything players can expect to see in Path of Exile 2’s early access period, including six character classes, three story acts, and a shockingly deep endgame.
There’s a truly ridiculous amount of content available in this game at launch, and players can try it out by picking up one of the newly-announced Path of Exile 2 Supporter Packs, which start from a base price of $30.
Path of Exile 2’s story and character classes
Grinding Gear Games has shown off a lot of Path of Exile 2’s content in the years leading up to its release, but this week, the developer chose to recap everything they’ve said about the game so far – plus some juicy new details on its endgame. First off, the game is launching with six playable classes, represented by a group of eccentric-looking unfortunate souls sentenced for lynching at the beginning of the game.
The character of your choice will free themselves and embark on Path of Exile 2’s story campaign, which is set a long 20 years after the first game. This time, players are tasked to hunt down the Seed of Corruption before the Count of Ogham harnesses its power to execute those who defy him. Along the way, they’ll meet a colourful cast of characters while trying to stop the corruption of Wraeclast, in locations like the forests of Ogham, the barren plains of the Vastiri Desert, and the Jungle ruins of Utzaal.
In early access, only Acts 1, 2 and 3 of the campaign will be playable. After that, players will take on the first three Acts at a higher difficulty called Cruel Difficulty Mode, allowing them to grind their characters up to Level 65. In case you’ve missed out on previous announcements, these are Path of Exile 2’s six playable classes:
- Monk: a fast fighter who wields the Quarterstaff or uses their fists throw punches in quick succession
- Warrior: a hard-hitting but slower-paced fighter who can slam down on enemies with big, chunky attacks.
- Ranger: a long-ranged fighter with numerous escape skills and lots of mobility.
- Mercenary: a crossbow-wielder with multiple ammo types to pick from.
- Witch: a necromancer-type class with the ability to summon undead minions in combat.
- Sorceress: a magic-user who casts elemental spells at enemies from afar.
Players will also be able to access two ascendancy classes for each of these upon reaching the endgame. More character classes will eventually be added to the game with equally diverse skill options, and as long as players fulfil the prerequisite attributes, they’ll be able to use any passive skill in any of their classes. Mixing and matching skills is not just possible, but highly encouraged.
Path of Exile 2’s extensive endgame
During a press event held this week, Grinding Gear Games confirmed that it had opted to shift more focus to Path of Exile 2’s endgame for the early access period, in order to address a common complaint of action-RPGs everywhere at launch: the endgame isn’t fun enough. Once players get to Level 65 by beating the Cruel Difficulty Mode (which will be replaced by the rest of the campaign upon exiting early access), they’ll have access to the endgame.
The endgame will give players access to special passive trees, which boost map rewards and change up a few endgame mechanics. There are also a variety of endgame activities to tick off here, including completing Trials for Ascension. The Trial of Sekhemas is a roguelike activity that has players test their might in a gauntlet of combat challenges. The Trial of the Chaos God is yet another method of Ascension, unlocked by use of a token that allows access to the Temple of Chaos. Here, players will face multiple rooms filled with hazards and choose between adventuring further for more rewards, or leaving with what they have thus far.
Another endgame activity called Expedition ties back to Path of Exile’s Settlers of Kalguur League. Here, Kalguuran settlers have found a few burial sites housing valuable relics. Players are tasked with bombing them to bits to uncover these relics, right after destroying the undead spirits of Kalguuran ancestors. The more sites they bomb, the better their rewards get.
Ritual Altars are also available for players to offer demonic tributes, simply by slaying and resurrecting monsters using dark magic, and then fighting to survive. Another endgame mechanic called Delirium will see players encounter mirrors, which cause mists of Delirium to spread out and infect their minds. These mists conjure monsters for players to slay for rewards, and the deeper into the mists players travel, the stronger they get.
The final endgame activity (so far) is called the Pinnacle, which appears to be a gigantic Fortress emerging from the ground beneath, surrounded by a sprawling and very dangerous maze.
Path of Exile 2 release time and platforms
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Path of Exile 2 launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and PC on December 7 at 3am GMT+8. You can check out Grinding Gear Games’ Early Access FAQ for more information on its launch content - of which there is a lot.
