Key Takeaways
- Asmongold recently shared his opinion that Path of Exile 2 has the potential to “cannibalize” Diablo 4’s audience, and Blizzard knows it.
- One of his main points is how much more accessible the game is for new players, something he believes is a big improvement over the first Path of Exile.
- Path of Exile 2 is set to launch in early access on December 6, featuring three campaign acts, six character classes, and an expansive endgame system.
The popular streamer Asmongold recently shared his opinion that Path of Exile 2 has the potential to “cannibalize” Diablo 4’s audience. With Path of Exile 2 set to launch in early access on December 6, Asmongold shared his thoughts on the game’s strengths in a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel.
Path of Exile 2 will launch in early access with three campaign acts, six character classes, and a deep endgame system. Meanwhile, Diablo 4 has announced several changes across all its classes, many of which were requested by players, as it prepares for the launch of Season 7. Although Path of Exile doesn’t share the long-standing history of the Diablo franchise, it is shaping up to be a potential strong competitor, and it seems like both the community and Blizzard are aware of this.
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Path of Exile 2’s Endgame Explained
Path of Exile 2’s endgame is extensive, to say the least, currently set up to provide players with seven unique systems to take advantage of.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, streamer Asmongold pointed out several ways Path of Exile 2 stands out compared to Diablo 4. One of his main points was how much more accessible the game is for new players, something he believes is a big improvement over the first Path of Exile. While the original game had a lot of depth and complexity, its steep learning curve kept a lot of potential fans away. According to Asmongold, the sequel feels like a next-generation game, not just because of its streamlined mechanics but also its better visuals, making it stand out in both gameplay and design compared to Diablo 4.
Asmongold Believes Path of Exile 2 Will Take Market Share Away from Diablo 4
- Conversation about this begins at 17:09
He also brought up how Path of Exile 2 is free-to-play, which is a stark contrast to Diablo 4‘s price tag and extra microtransactions that have frustrated many players. Asmongold argued that with these features, Path of Exile 2 will be a serious competitor for Diablo 4’s audience. Moreover, Asmongold pointed out that Blizzard seems aware of this competition, with a recent Twitter post by Rod Fergusson, Diablo‘s General Manager, suggesting that Asmongold may be right. In it, the Diablo executive said he believed that ARPGs should be called “Diablo-like.” This comment came shortly after Path of Exile 2 had its most-watched stream ever.
Fergusson’s statement received backlash from players, some of whom criticized Diablo 4 and praised Path of Exile as a more authentic “Diablo-like” game. Answering to the tweet, many players pointed to Diablo 4‘s heavy reliance on microtransactions and some of its questionable design choices. Comments like, “When you make a good Diablo game, then we can talk,” reflect the ongoing frustration Blizzard’s audience feels.
While Diablo 4 has improved since its launch, its initial reception (full of bugs, UI issues, and expensive features) seems a little bit different from the excitement surrounding Path of Exile 2. Whether Path of Exile 2 can truly draw players away from Diablo 4, as Asmongold suggests, remains to be seen.
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