The Diablo 4 killer is here and it looks like it might succeed. Grinding Gear Games has done great with Path of Exile 2. But is it too hard?

Grinding Gear Games has finally launched the Early Access for Path of Exile 2 and boy has it blown up. After waiting a decade since the first game’s release, fans have patiently waited for this new entry into the ARPG genre which already looks better than Diablo 4 to some.

PoE 2 is an absolute banger. | Image Credit: Grinding Gear Games

One thing that players have found early on though is that the game is extremely difficult. especially at the start. With all these complaints, what will GGG do about this? One easy way to go about it is to pull a FromSoft and let players deal with it. Seeing as the game’s already a hit, it might just work.

Players Think Patch of Exile 2 is a Bit Too Hard Right Now

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Grinding Gear Games’ Path of Exile 2 Early Access launched to overwhelming player interest. Day two saw a peak of more than 500k concurrent players on Steam and over 1 million viewers on Twitch. However, the launch wasn’t flawless. Server instability and website crashes frustrated eager players. At least GGG already warned us beforehand.

Path of Exile II has set a new peak of 500,000+ concurrent Steam players on day two of Early Access.

Currently you have to spend a minimum of $30 to play (full game will be F2P).#PathofExile2 #POE2 pic.twitter.com/KaKK6fyra0

— KAMI (@Okami13_) December 7, 2024

The challenge in Path of Exile 2 begins immediately, with Act 1 getting tons of complaints from players. Many players reported dozens of deaths before completing even the early stages. The community is divided on how Grinding Gear Games should address these concerns. While some players want to keep the current difficulty, others suggest changing the early game to ease new players into the experience.

For some players, the difficulty is what has made this sequel truly rewarding. The game encourages exploration and experimentation, forcing players to adapt their strategies and builds. One Reddit user shared, “I genuinely enjoyed dying and rethinking my approach to bosses. It made victory feel earned.” With this mindset, players are praising the game’s emphasis on preparation and learning, likening it to titles like Dark Souls.

Many players complain that Path of Exile 2’s difficulty is too high. What do you think 🧐?#PathofExile2 #POE2 pic.twitter.com/Ym03QXuTvI

— GermanStrands (@GermanStrands) December 8, 2024

A recurring complaint is the perceived imbalance between the challenge and the rewards. Players suggest that the challenge is fine as long as the rewards and loot become better. “So far defeating bosses only gave me something like 100-200 golds and 2 magic items. Sometimes a scroll if I’m lucky” one player remarked.

A Soulslike ARPG Could be Exactly What We Need

The difficulty is kinda perfect. | Image Credit: Grinding Gear Games

The Soulslike inspiration is evident in Path of Exile 2’s design, from its punishing boss fights to its lack of difficulty settings. The 35-40-hour campaign features punishing enemies and meticulously designed boss battles. Players are expected to learn attack patterns and optimize builds for success,

A portion of players is asking Grinding Gear Games not to compromise on the difficulty as they believe the challenge is integral to the game’s identity and separates it from competitors like Diablo 4. And if the early player count is any indication, the game is good as is.

One of Path of Exile 2’s standout features is the new gem and skill system, which has received widespread praise for enabling greater experimentation and flexibility. By removing socket color restrictions, players can freely explore various builds without the constraints of luck-based drops.

The developers now face a dilemma: how to retain the hardcore aspect of Path of Exile 2 while addressing player concerns. For many, the punishing difficulty is the game’s defining feature, a refreshing change from the trend of catering to casual audiences. However, for others, this very aspect threatens to alienate a large portion of the player base.

Well, we don’t see FromSoft apologizing for putting us through hell. Elden Ring even won Game of The Year, so maybe the difficulty should stay.