Path of Exile 2 Emerges as Diablo 4’s First True Rival, Fortuitously Launching During a Lull for Blizzard

Diablo 4 has now been around for more than a year. Since its release in June 2023, Blizzard has rolled out some significant updates that have reshaped the game. These updates have touched on everything from items and leveling to difficulty settings, not to mention a complete overhaul of the endgame experience.

In the time since launch, Diablo 4 has seen the addition of one full expansion and six seasons, each accompanied by a slew of updates aimed at addressing nearly all of the issues players initially identified. As a result, the Diablo 4 of late-2024 is a vastly different experience compared to its 2023 summer debut. Yet, even at launch, it was my top choice in the ARPG scene because it hit all the right notes for the things I love in this genre.

But now, it might be time for Diablo 4 to take a breather. Path of Exile 2 seems poised to be the first game since Diablo 4’s release with a genuine chance to attract its casual player base, which makes up the bulk of its audience.

I’m really drawn to this style of action RPG—those isometric, loot-heavy adventures that tell gritty tales of apocalyptic worlds and the corruption of age-old beliefs. Whenever a promising title in this vein appears, I follow its progress closely. Often, though, I don’t spend as much time with them as I’d like. Many just don’t capture my attention for long, and I find myself gravitating back to Diablo.

Earlier in the year, when Diablo 4 hit a particularly rough patch, Last Epoch made its 1.0 debut. It was decent—it played fairly well—but its primary focus was clearly the endgame, something I never stuck around long enough to engage with deeply. It sometimes felt like a game intent on pleasing its most die-hard fans by introducing systems and solving problems that most players might not even notice. In the end, it only managed to hold onto its most dedicated players.

And so, Diablo 4 remained unchallenged. All the effort Blizzard invested in the game solidified it as the favorite among the most vocal ARPG fans. But with Path of Exile 2 on the horizon, that reign may be nearing its end.

To be honest, I never viewed the original Path of Exile as a genuine competitor to Diablo. The thought of it drawing away Blizzard’s casual fanbase always seemed about as plausible as Call of Duty falling to Arma.

Nonetheless, Path of Exile has maintained a strong presence. Over the years, I’ve found myself downloading it time and again, only to abandon it after half a dozen hours. I could handle the cramped inventory, the sprawling passive skill tree, the intricate gem mechanics, and the tedious item identification process. But the combat always felt clunky and lacked satisfaction.

Even Grinding Gear Games, the developers, saw this as a flaw and tried to address it a while back. This prompted me to give it another chance, but I soon quit again.

I haven’t actually played Path of Exile 2 yet, but the buzz around it is hard to ignore. From all the previews and discussions, it seems GGG is finally targeting the Diablo player base—those of us who crave fulfilling action, rewarding loot, and the high production values of major titles.

I’ve got an eye for ARPG nuances, especially when it comes to character movement and the feel of combat. From what I’ve observed, Path of Exile 2 is closer than ever to matching Diablo, particularly in the fluidity of combat akin to Diablo 4’s style.

Despite improvements, Path of Exile 2 is set to remain more intricate than Diablo 4. During a recent developer showcase, an hour-long presentation delved into features and systems primarily aimed at the endgame. It may seem more approachable, but it’s unlikely GGG would desert its core audience now.

I still notice some presentational quirks in PoE2 that bothered me in its predecessor, and I anticipate missing certain Diablo 4 features. But this time, I’m genuinely excited to get into it, to explore the world, and to experience the combat firsthand. Whether that’ll be enough for me to overlook the complexity remains to be seen.

Despite my personal feelings about combat intricacies, it’s hard not to see Path of Exile 2’s launch as a testament to the enduring vitality of this subgenre. We’ve moved beyond the idea of one game needing to overshadow another. There’s room enough for both to flourish, and I eagerly anticipate more entries in the future. Still, there’s a part of me that wonders if I’ll become one of those PoE enthusiasts who get defensive whenever someone casually critiques the game they adore—a defense often starting with, “No, you don’t understand.”

Path of Exile 2 will be available starting December 6 on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.