Path of Exile 2 May Have to Dramatically Change One of Its Systems

Path of Exile 2 May Have to Dramatically Change One of Its Systems



Summary

  • Path of Exile 2 is still in early access with only 6 out of 12 classes, missing weapon types.
  • The trading system in Path of Exile 2 is problematic, relying on an external website for transactions.
  • Potential changes to trading in Path of Exile 2 could include an auction house or flagging inactive sellers.

Since Path of Exile 2 launched in early access in December 2024, it is very likely to undergo all kinds of changes before it fully comes out. For starters, it only has six classes out of the 12 that are supposed to be included in the full release, and with two Ascendancy classes each it’s still missing 18 classes total. The same applies to weapon types, as only six of them are in the game at the moment, and each new type is expected to come with its corresponding Path of Exile 2 classes. Changes are already happening to the game’s current offerings, but one of its systems may need a complete overhaul.

GGG seems open to making changes based on fan feedback so far, which bodes well for Path of Exile 2‘s future. Still, there is a rather common form of criticism moved toward the game in its early access state, and that is its trading system. Path of Exile 2‘s trading is not too dissimilar from that of its predecessor, and that is not necessarily for the best. In fact, many players wanted a different approach to trading in Path of Exile, and the sequel doesn’t change it, but it should.

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Why Path of Exile 2’s Trading System is Problematic

Trading in Path of Exile 2 is essentially dependent on the game’s website, which players have to visit and select the type of items or currency they want to buy, set filters for various stats and requirements if needed, and then contact the seller with the click of a button. In theory, it could be a good system, but it can be detrimental in practice in multiple ways. This is because anyone can list items for sale within the game, and since prices are community-dependent, there can be a lot of price-fixers who are not truly selling what they listed.

Trading can be even more frustrating for console players, as it may be less immediate to access the website.

Sometimes players may naturally be AFK or in the middle of something important, meaning they cannot trade when contacted. Other times, players may change their listed prices after being messaged because they have a change of heart, realize their item is worth more than they thought, or for other reasons. Likewise, one may even decide not to trade at all despite having items listed. What follows is that players may not be able to complete a lot of trades, making it hard to upgrade one’s gear or build in Path of Exile 2.

How Path of Exile 2’s Trading System Could Change

Path of Exile 2 Rolling Slam Herald of Ash detonation

There are various ways for Grinding Gear Games to address this, but they would require the game to dramatically change how trading works. One solution could be to adopt an auction house, which would allow players to still list items as they please within the game, but auto-complete the trade when someone buys them. There could be pros and cons to this system, and it depends on how it’s implemented. For example, if listings can’t be changed after being added, it could be frustrating for sellers. Still, adding an entire auction house system would be a big change for Path of Exile 2, and it may take a long time before it’s implemented.

A more immediate option would be to allow players to flag sellers who are inactive for whatever reason. For example, adding a tool to the website that allows players who try to PM someone for a trade to leave feedback, such as “Trade completed successfully” or “Seller is unresponsive.” This would help combat price-fixers, as they would have to constantly re-upload their fake listing as soon as it’s flagged. It may not be a long-term solution nor a flawless one, but it could help avoid players some of the issues with Path of Exile 2‘s current trading system.

It remains to be seen whether GGG decides to do something about trading and what that may look like, though. The company may already be working on something, considering that trading in Path of Exile is similar and equally problematic, but so far there is no official word about it.

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