PS5 Feedback: Unplayable "Fast-Forward" Lag Spikes & Asset Loading Issues

​Platform: PlayStation 5
Subject: Network Instability, Lockstep behavior, and Server Performance

​To the Dev Team,
​I wanted to share my feedback regarding my experience with Path of Exile 2 on PS5. While the game shows great potential, my experience is currently ruined by severe network instability that renders the gameplay impractical.

​The Issue:
I am experiencing frequent lag spikes that seem to correlate with the dynamic streaming of environments, monsters, and other assets appearing on screen. This is not just a framerate drop, but a distinct network stall.
The visual symptom is consistent: the screen freezes briefly, followed immediately by an ultra-fast "speed-up" animation of the scene as the client attempts to resynchronize with the server.
​
Impact on Gameplay:
In a game requiring high precision and positioning, this behavior is fatal.
​During the "catch-up" speed-up phase, I lose total control of my character.
​It becomes impossible to dodge enemy attacks or execute my own skills accurately.
​This turns technical encounters into unfair deaths.
​
Suggestions for the Network/Dev Team:
It appears the console version is strictly enforcing "Lockstep" networking, which handles data bursts or packet loss poorly during asset loading. To resolve this, I urge you to look into two areas:
​Server Infrastructure & Routing: Please investigate server stability and capacity. The correlation between asset generation and lag suggests the server might be struggling to send entity data batches efficiently, or that current server nodes are overloaded, causing packet loss that triggers the Lockstep freeze.
​Enable "Predictive Mode" Option: Please give console players the option to switch to "Predictive" networking (like on PC). I would much rather deal with slight rubber-banding than the current freeze/fast-forward behavior which makes combat unplayable.
​Asset Streaming Priority: There seems to be a bottleneck when loading new assets. Prioritizing position packets over heavy asset streaming data could help maintain character control during these spikes.

​I hope a fix or a networking option will be deployed soon, as the game is currently too difficult to enjoy in this state.