Path of Exile 2, according to game director Jonathan Rogers, draws inspiration from a rich array of video games, notably borrowing elements from Elden Ring and other action-oriented titles for its boss battles. Interestingly, it also looks to Civilization V for inspiration regarding its end-game map.
This was brought to light during an end-game presentation and was further discussed in a press roundtable. The topic emerged when the audience witnessed a dramatic story boss fight where the character confronts a giant construct with a slew of unique attacks and multiple phases. When asked about the broader range of inspirations during the press interview that followed, Rogers had plenty to share.
“You know, it’s tough to pinpoint just one game because we draw inspiration from all over the place,” Rogers explained. “Take the in-game map, for instance; I told our artists I wanted it to look like Civilization V! It’s something you wouldn’t normally expect in an action RPG. Our influences are so varied, it’s really hard to list them all.”
He continued, “Naturally, we’ve taken cues from recent action games, particularly in the combat domain, much like what you see in Elden Ring. I dabble in pretty much every game genre out there—I’m not solely into ARPGs. Oddly enough, single-player action games are probably my favorite, and they heavily inform our approach to boss design. We aim for our bosses in PoE 2 to compete with the best action games out there. They’re loaded with intriguing mechanics and abilities.”
Rogers went on to highlight the complexities involved, “Creating such intricate bosses involves a lot of effort. Plus, PoE 2 also incorporates elements like dodge rolling, which adds another layer. We’re blending action game dynamics with the strategic depth of a stat-driven game—a challenging task indeed.”
In our preview of PoE 2, we acknowledged the impressive boss design, which you can dive into fully here. Mark your calendars, as Path of Exile 2 is slated for a December 6 release on both PC and consoles.
