"Path of Exile 2 Devs Implement Urgent Updates Amid 'Mostly Negative' Steam Reviews"

Path of Exile 2 developer Grinding Gear Games (GGG) has recently introduced additional emergency updates to address the community's strong reaction to the Dawn of the Hunt update. This update, which was released earlier this month, introduced the new Huntress class, equipped with a Spear and Buckler, and specializing in hybrid melee and ranged combat. It also brought five new ascension classes: the Ritualist, Amazon, Smith of Kitava, Tactician, and Lich, along with over a hundred new unique items and expanded crafting options. However, the changes have been met with significant backlash, particularly due to the perceived slowing down of gameplay, which many players have described as a "total slog."

The community's frustration is evident in the recent Steam user reviews, which have plummeted to 'mostly negative.' A notable review highlights the extended duration of boss fights and the minimal damage output from skills, expressing disappointment over the slowed gameplay and issues with game stability. Another review sarcastically suggests that the game now caters to masochists, indicating a shift away from the freedom of build customization that fans appreciated in the original Path of Exile.

In response to the community's feedback, GGG has already implemented some changes and is set to release more with the 0.2.0e update on April 11. These updates aim to address various gameplay and balance issues, including:

Path of Exile 2 Update 0.2.0e Patch Notes

Monster Speed Changes

GGG has acknowledged the overwhelming presence of monsters and is making targeted adjustments. Key changes include:

• Removal of interrupt events for human monsters like Cultists, Faridun, and Tribal Humans, to reduce relentless pursuit and allow players more time to engage.
• The Haste Aura modifier will no longer appear on already fast monsters.

Act 1

• Werewolf and Tendril Prowlers will now walk after melee actions, only resuming running if the player moves away.
• Hungering Stalkers have reduced Life and Damage to balance their high speed.
• Reduced numbers of Bloom Serpents and Venomous Crabs.
• Cultists in Freythorn no longer have interrupt events, and those wielding Axes and Maces will walk after melee actions.
• Blood Cretins' Blood Pools now last shorter and match the visual effect more closely.
• Reduced density of challenging monsters in Ogham Manor.

Act 2

• Boulder Ants in Titan Valley replaced with Risen Maraketh to address movement issues.
• Faridun's interrupt events removed.

Act 3

• Diretusk Boar and Antlion Charger's charge mechanics adjusted to push players sideways.
• Adjusted monster composition in The Lost City and Azak Bog to reduce ranged and elite monsters.
• Fixed Slitherspitter's poison spray damage type in Venom Crypts.

Boss Changes

• Viper Napuatzi's Chaos Rains reduced in number and size, with faster cleanup of visual effects.
• Uxmal's fight mechanics adjusted to reduce location changes, Energy Shield recharging, and frequency of Flame Breath.
• Xyclucian's arena cleared of ground foliage for better visibility of effects.

Player Minion Changes

• Adjusted minion revive timers to prevent repeated long waits.
• Disenchanting Bind Spectre or Tame Beast gems now unbinds them for reuse.
• Tamed beasts can now fit through player-sized gaps.

Other Player Balance

• Rally support expanded to any Melee Attack.
• Glory from Hammer of the Gods and Spear of Solaris no longer consumed if interrupted.
• Fixed Ritualist's Blood Boils propagation issue.

Crafting Changes

• All mods added to runes for caster weapons.
• Renly's abandoned shop in the Burning Village now offers a Blank rune, forgeable into any elemental rune.

Performance Improvements

• Optimized ground foliage in many areas for better performance.

0.2.0E Deployment Timeline

The 0.2.0e patch is scheduled for deployment at around 10AM NZT, with further changes planned post-weekend.

Charm Changes

• Charm slots on belts now determined by implicit mods, with a random number up to a level-dependent cap.
• Unique Belts can have up to 3 charm slots, with plans to remove the cap in future updates.
• Charms now protect from the hit that activates them, and have more powerful mods.

Stash Tab Affinities

• New affinities for Socketables, Fragments, Breach, Expedition, and Ritual items.
• Charms can now be stored in the Flask stash tab or any tab with the Flask affinity.

Atlas Bookmarks

• Players can now bookmark locations on the atlas, with up to 16 bookmarks available, each with an icon and optional label.

The question remains whether these changes will be substantial enough to address the community's concerns and restore a positive outlook on Path of Exile 2. Despite the initial success of the game, which saw an overwhelming number of players at launch, the backlash has not only affected the new game but also the development of Path of Exile 1, which continues to have a dedicated player base.