Summary
Diablo 4’s Season of the Malignant has been marked by controversy as many players are unhappy with the changes the Season 1 update brought to the game, claiming that the game has been made more of a grind to play for minimal payoff. As a result, many players have become burnt out with the game and may be looking to move on to something new and refreshing away from the grind ofDiablo 4, though they should be aware Blizzard is looking into this. Either way, this situation presents the perfect opportunity forDiablo 4’s potential competitorPath of Exile 2to swoop in and steal some of the game’s player base if the game strikes while the iron is hot.
Originally announced at ExileCon 2019,Path of Exile 2is the long-awaited sequel to Grinding Gear Games' free-to-play ARPGthat many fans have seen as an alternative to theDiabloseries.Path of Exile 2was re-revealed at Summer Game Fest 2023 but was somewhat overshadowed for appearing so close toDiablo 4’s launch. However, now that many fans have been turned off byDiablo 4Season 1’s disappointing update,Path of Exile 2is in a better position than ever.
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Path of Exile 2 Could Potentially Steal Diablo 4’s Thunder after the Season 1 Update Controversy
Diablo 4players have had some major gripes about the changes this seasonal update has made to the game, including a blanketnerf for allDiablo 4classesand a buff to enemies that made playing already weak classes like the Sorcerer even more of a headache to play. On top of all that, arbitrary changes like longer times for exiting a dungeon and an increase in the number of Aberrant Cinders needed for some Helltide Chests made it feel like Blizzard was trying to artificially increase the time players spent in the game. While the developers addressed these concerns during their recent Campfire Chat, the damage may have already been done.
With a good deal of theDiablo 4community putting the game down whileBlizzard works to reverse these controversial changes,Path of Exile 2could step up as a refuge for these players if it plays its cards right. Currently,Path of Exile 2is slated to launch sometime in 2023, but with the year now in its second half and no concrete release date announced, Grinding Gear Games needs to capitalize onDiablo 4’s missteps while it can. Luckily, ExileCon is just around the corner happening from July 29-30, and this event presents the perfect time to generate hype forPath of Exile 2.
Ideally, ExileCon 2023 will yieldPath of Exile 2open beta dates that can give players a tangible timeline to look forward to. The earlier an open beta is scheduled forPath of Exile 2, the more likely disgruntledDiablo 4players will be to check it out as the sting ofDiablo 4’s recent update will still be fresh. The timing ofDiablo 4’s controversyis also ideal for Grinding Gear Games as it could, in the pure spirit of competition, tailor the content presentation forPath of Exile 2to contrast the controversial aspects ofDiablo 4.
Although many fans assumed the competition betweenDiablo 4andPath of Exile 2would be very one-sided in favor of Blizzard’s ARPG, the recent blunder may actually swing the competition inPath of Exile 2’s favor depending on if Grinding Gear Games is able toenticeDiablo 4’s player baseto its side.Path of Exile 2’s free-to-play status already gives it a lower barrier to entry thanDiablo 4, and if the developer can learn from its competitor’s mistakes regarding seasonal content,Path of Exile 2could potentially have a huge launch. The game’s open beta will be its most telling sign of success, and it needs to happen sooner rather than later.
Diablo 4is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
