An Appeal to Reason from a Longtime Player

To the developers at Grinding Gear Games,

I’ve been a supporter of Path of Exile for many years and deeply respect the creativity, ambition, and tireless work that has gone into building this franchise. The direction you're pursuing with Path of Exile 2—one that emphasizes deliberate combat, meaningful decisions, and a slower, more tactical pace—is a bold and admirable vision.

But I want to raise a concern, not as a critic, but as someone who wants this vision to succeed.

The recent Dawn of the Hunt update has sparked strong community feedback. Much of it centers on a shared experience: that the game feels more tedious than challenging. Players aren't frustrated because it's difficult—they're frustrated because it's exhausting. Fights feel drawn out, builds feel underpowered, and progression no longer feels rewarding. These aren't complaints born from resistance to change. They're warning signs from players who want to stay, but who are starting to wonder if the game still wants them.

The seasonal model, which has sustained PoE for over a decade, doesn't mesh well with a campaign that demands 10+ hours of grueling effort per character, per league. If difficulty becomes synonymous with friction, and mastery no longer brings speed or efficiency, then replayability suffers—no matter how deep the systems are.

I believe your vision can thrive, but only if the player experience remains at the center of it. Challenge is meaningful when it empowers the player. But when difficulty feels like being held back, not tested, players begin to disengage.

This is not a demand for nerfs, or for a return to PoE1's power creep. It's a request to re-evaluate the current trajectory—not from a place of panic, but from a place of care. The community wants to walk with you. But if the road ahead is paved with friction and fatigue, you may find fewer still willing to make the journey.

Thank you for reading, and for the incredible game you've built. I hope you'll hear this not as criticism, but as the trust of someone who still believes in what you’re making.

With respect,

Krax (7472 hours in PoE 1, 93 hours in PoE 2)

W post. Bump.

Incoming rush of neophytes who never even reached level 60 in PoE1 and most likely discovered the game through Twitch in 1... 2... 3...