Path of Exile 2 Devs Comment on Endgame Difficulty

Path of Exile 2's challenging endgame has sparked debate among players, prompting a response from the developers. Co-directors Mark Roberts and Jonathan Rogers recently defended the game's high difficulty, emphasizing the importance of meaningful consequences for death. They argued that the current system, which includes features like significant experience loss upon death, prevents players from progressing too quickly beyond their capabilities. Rogers stated, "...if you’re dying all the time then you’re probably not ready to keep going up the power curve."

The developers acknowledged player feedback regarding the demanding endgame, characterized by powerful enemy builds and fast-paced encounters. While acknowledging the difficulty, they emphasized their commitment to maintaining a core element of challenge, rejecting suggestions of simplifying the system (such as reverting to a single-portal system). The team is currently reviewing the various factors contributing to the endgame's difficulty to determine which aspects should remain to preserve the intended experience.

Despite the difficulty, a wealth of strategies and guides exist to help players navigate the Atlas of Worlds endgame. These strategies focus on optimizing builds, effectively utilizing portals, and mastering high-tier maps. The endgame involves unlocking and conquering numerous interconnected maps, each presenting increasingly difficult challenges and powerful bosses. Access to the Atlas is granted after completing the main campaign on Cruel difficulty.

The game, released in early access in December 2024, has seen a strong player base and recently received its first 2025 update (Patch 0.1.0), addressing various bugs and performance issues, especially on PlayStation 5. A subsequent patch (0.1.1) is in development. Despite these improvements and available strategies, the endgame's difficulty remains a significant point of discussion within the Path of Exile 2 community.