Path of Exile 2 developer Grinding Gear Games (GGG) has responded to the community backlash against the Dawn of the Hunt update with a series of emergency changes aimed at addressing the concerns raised by players. The update, which introduced the new Huntress class and five new ascension classes, along with significant mechanical overhauls and new items, initially received a negative response due to its impact on the game's pace.
The Dawn of the Hunt update was launched earlier this month and quickly stirred controversy within the Path of Exile community. Players were introduced to the Huntress class, which specializes in hybrid melee and ranged combat with a Spear and Buckler, and new ascension classes including the Ritualist, Amazon, Smith of Kitava, Tactician, and Lich. Additionally, the update added over one hundred new unique items and expanded crafting options. However, the community's reaction was overwhelmingly negative, with many players feeling that the changes made the game a "total slog" due to slower gameplay.
Steam user reviews have reflected this sentiment, plummeting to 'mostly negative' in recent weeks. A notable review highlighted the issues, stating, "Every boss fight is incredibly longer than it needs to be. Most of the skills do little to no damage... It just feels incredibly awful right now, IF you can even get the game to run and be stable." Another review criticized the game's forced combo gameplay and the reduced loot drop rates, expressing frustration over the lack of player freedom in build creation.
In response to the feedback, GGG has released patch notes for the upcoming 0.2.0e update, set to launch on April 11. The patch aims to address several key issues:
- Monster Speed Changes: Adjustments to monster behavior to reduce overwhelming encounters, including the removal of interrupt events on certain attacks and modifications to the Haste Aura modifier.
- Act-Specific Changes: Reductions in monster numbers and adjustments to their behaviors across Acts 1, 2, and 3 to improve player experience.
- Boss Changes: Tweaks to challenging bosses like Viper Napuatzi and Uxmal to make fights less frustrating.
- Player Minion Changes: Revisions to minion revive timers to prevent repeated long waits.
- Other Player Balance: Enhancements to player skills and fixes for bugs affecting gameplay.
- Crafting Changes: Completion of caster weapon mods and the addition of a Blank rune at Renly's shop.
- Performance Improvements: Optimization of ground foliage to enhance game performance.
The question remains whether these changes will be sufficient to restore player satisfaction and improve the game's reception. Despite the initial success of Path of Exile 2, which saw a surge in player numbers at launch, the backlash has also affected the development of Path of Exile 1, which continues to maintain a dedicated player base.
GGG has also outlined further changes to be implemented post-weekend, including enhancements to the charm system, the introduction of Stash Tab Affinities for various item categories, and the addition of Atlas Bookmarks to improve navigation. These updates signify GGG's commitment to addressing player feedback and improving the overall experience of Path of Exile 2.
