"PoE2: Future Updates to Shift Focus from New Classes"

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Path of Exile 2’s game director has revealed that new classes will no longer be the central focus of major patches moving forward. Learn more about this decision and what the team at Grinding Gear Games (GGG) plans to prioritize in future updates.

Path of Exile 2: New Classes May Not Appear in Every Patch

During a recent Q&A session with Path of Exile 2 Game Director Jonathan Rogers, it was clarified that players shouldn’t expect a new class to be introduced in every major update. The development team has shifted its focus away from making new classes a core component of each patch due to scheduling unpredictability.

When asked whether fans should expect a new class in every upcoming release, Rogers explained that while the team would like to include one, they’ve learned that relying on a class as a key feature for a patch can disrupt timelines. He stated, I would like it if every release would have a class, but I would say that we actually learned something during the production of this cycle, which is that it was a mistake to have a class as a wedge for the development of your expansion.

The primary issue stemmed from balancing fixed release dates with unpredictable content development. For example, tying the release of the Huntress class to a specific patch forced multiple delays. As Rogers noted, We have to have the Huntress in the next patch, so therefore, the date had to float, and that meant that this expansion ended up taking a lot longer than what we had hoped.

He emphasized his preference for fixed release schedules and admitted that promising new classes for each patch could compromise that goal. While I’m very keen to have a class in the next expansion, I’m not going to promise that because that would mean we can’t fix the date anymore, he added.

Given these challenges, Rogers explained that new classes will no longer be tied to each major patch. This approach allows GGG to deliver consistent and timely updates to the community without unnecessary delays. Players really do want to see forward progress, and they don’t want to be waiting six to nine months before they see a big update, he said. So I think it’s important that we’re constantly giving them stuff in a reasonably timely manner, so for that reason, the classes are less predictable.

However, there’s still plenty to look forward to. Rogers confirmed that additional Ascendancies will continue to be released with each patch. He also expressed enthusiasm about adding more classes post-Early Access. As I said, Ascendancies, we can definitely do; maybe even after release, we continue to add even more classes as I’m certainly keen to add more, Rogers concluded.

Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt Enhances Endgame Content

Expect a More Challenging Endgame Experience

In addition to the Huntress, the Dawn of the Hunt update will introduce over 100 new skills, support gems, and unique gear designed to enhance both midgame and endgame experiences. However, the biggest change centers around increasing the difficulty of endgame bosses.

Rogers explained that GGG wants to extend the time it takes for characters to reach peak power, ensuring that the endgame doesn’t become trivial too quickly. There are certainly some things that are going to have to be nerfed because they’re completely trivializing certain mechanics, he said. People are getting [to] the point of complete outrageousness a little bit too early, he added. I think that you need to be able to get to that point at some point, but you don’t want it to be that you get to that point before you even finish your initial climb.

He expressed disappointment that Pinnacle Bosses were defeated far too quickly by top-tier builds—some within just fourteen seconds. Rogers envisions a scenario where the first encounter with a Pinnacle Boss is a significant challenge, especially for the first player in a league to defeat it.

The first time you fight a Pinnacle Boss, it’s going to be a hard fight and crazy. But as you fight the boss more times and you get more items and optimize your build, you can get to the point where you kill the boss in fourteen seconds. It’s just that it’s not your first experience, Rogers elaborated.

He acknowledged that the current meta has allowed players to gain power too easily, and the balance changes aim to correct that. Things have kind of gotten a little bit off the rails, in terms of the ability to get power too easily there, and that’s kind of the main thing. Rogers concluded that the focus is now on slowing down progression toward maximum power. You should always be able to feel powerful and certainly should have that fantasy there, just not right off the bat. So that’s where a lot of our balance changes are focused.

Path of Exile 2: Satisfied With Its Ruthless Difficulty Curve

It's Not Easier — You're Just Better

Player reactions to Path of Exile 2’s campaign difficulty have been mixed, with some calling it too easy and others labeling it too punishing. However, Rogers is satisfied with the current level of difficulty and believes perceptions will evolve over time.

He noted that many criticisms came from players who had previously played the first Path of Exile but hadn’t yet fully engaged with the sequel. These comparisons skewed expectations. Rogers believes complaints about the difficulty will subside once players adjust. I don’t think we’re gonna get nearly as many complaints about it this time, and that’s because once you know how to play, you’re going to find the experience a lot easier.

If concerns persist, the team will reassess based on further feedback. Still, Rogers remains optimistic. People are often surprised. A lot of the times what happens is that the second time people play through the game, they will talk about how they (GGG) must have changed the balance, but the actual reality is that they just got better at the game, he summarized.