Path of Exile 2 Emerges as Diablo 4’s First Major Competitor, Arriving During a Lull for Blizzard

Diablo 4 has been around for over a year now, having first launched in June 2023. Since then, Blizzard has made some significant adjustments to the game, tweaking its itemization, leveling experience, and difficulty settings, and reconfiguring the endgame structure in major ways.

Within that time, Diablo 4 has received an entire expansion, gone through six seasons, and undergone numerous updates. These efforts have successfully addressed nearly all the major complaints players initially had. The version of Diablo 4 we see in late 2024 is quite a different beast from what debuted a year and some months ago. Still, even before these updates, I already considered it my favorite action RPG. It nailed the elements I care about most in these games, despite the criticism geared towards its initial version.

However, it’s time for Diablo 4 to step aside for a moment because Path of Exile 2 seems poised to be its first genuine contender since its release. This game might be the one to draw in Diablo’s casual audience — a significant portion of its players.

The allure of action RPGs for me has always been their isometric view, loot-driven dynamics, and the intense narratives revolving around apocalyptic worlds and corrupted ancient beliefs. I tend to check out those which catch my interest when they’re announced. Yet often, the gameplay doesn’t hook me for long, leading me back to Diablo as the engagement wanes.

Earlier this year, when Diablo 4 was going through a rough patch, Last Epoch’s version 1.0 arrived. It was decent and played smoothly, but the focus on the endgame wasn’t something that truly captured me or kept me engaged long enough to explore. It felt tailored for the hardcore crowd, tackling issues that the average gamer might not even identify. Unfortunately, despite its entrance, it seemed to fade away, keeping only the most die-hard fans playing.

Thus, Diablo 4 maintained its dominance, bolstered by all the development effort Blizzard had put into it. But now, that dominance faces a challenge with Path of Exile 2’s entry.

Back in the day, I never saw the original Path of Exile as a real threat to Diablo. It seemed unlikely to disrupt Blizzard’s huge casual fanbase — akin to suggesting Call of Duty might fall to Arma in terms of popularity.

Yet Path of Exile has proven itself quite enduring. Every now and then, I’d reinstall it, investing a good six or seven hours before inevitably drifting away. I could tolerate its limited inventory space, the vast, overwhelming skill tree, and even its intricate gem system. However, its combat always felt clunky and unsatisfying to me.

Grinding Gear Games, the developers responsible, acknowledged combat as a weak point and have tried to improve it in the past. Every time they made a change, I’d try it out again, only to depart swiftly.

I’ve yet to play Path of Exile 2, but from all the buzz surrounding it, it seems GGG is making moves to appeal to Diablo enthusiasts. Those players who revel in action-driven gameplay, a hint of loot excitement, and enjoy high production values will likely be interested.

As someone who consumes a lot of ARPGs, I tend to notice nuances like character movement, the priority given to attack animations, and the tangible feel of weight and momentum — details that might escape the casual observer. This is where I’m seeing the most significant improvements, making Path of Exile 2’s combat vibe feel closer than ever to Diablo, especially the style introduced in Diablo 4.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Path of Exile 2 is still shaping up to be more intricate than Diablo 4. Its developers recently spent over an hour detailing features focused mainly on the endgame. Though the early access build offers just a segment of the main campaign, it’s clear they’re aiming to make it more accessible, without alienating their core fanbase.

There are still some presentation aspects in Path of Exile 2 that remind me of why I had issues with the original game. I also suspect I’ll wish for certain Diablo 4 characteristics to appear in it, even if they don’t. Yet, this time, there’s genuine excitement to dive in, to explore character movement, interact with the game world, and feel the thrill of combat. Will that enthusiasm be enough for me to overlook the complexities that come with the game? I’m still unsure.

Regardless of my personal preferences regarding combat intricacies, it’s impossible not to view Path of Exile 2’s launch as a testament to the genre’s vitality. We’re beyond the era where Game X exists merely to dethrone Game Y. I actually want both to coexist, and there’s ample space for more games in this arena. Secretly, though, there’s a whisper of worry that I might turn into one of those fervent Path of Exile loyalists who vehemently defend their game against any casual critique. That defense too often echoes with, “No, you just don’t get it.”

Path of Exile 2 is set to release on December 6 on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.