Path of Exile 2’s Early Access Approach Raises Eyebrows but Could Benefit Loyal Players

If you’ve even briefly brushed shoulders with the world of Path of Exile, you’ve probably caught whispers about its famously sprawling passive skill tree. But another frequent conversation topic among its fan base is how it’s one of the few free-to-play games that doesn’t squeeze its users for every penny.

Path of Exile is often heralded as a beacon of fair free-to-play practices, offering enhancements and cosmetic items for purchase without disrupting the game’s core enjoyment. This model respects players enough not to compromise essential gameplay for the sake of profit.

Now, knowing all this, it might still come as a shock when you look at the prices for the Path of Exile 2 supporter packs. They start at a somewhat reasonable $30, but they can skyrocket to a staggering $480! Some of these pricey packs do include physical goodies, but even without those, the cost is quite hefty compared to what most free-to-play titles ask from their users.

Naturally, the pricing of these bundles is set by Grinding Gear Games, the creators behind this franchise. They wouldn’t set such a high price tag if they weren’t confident people would buy them. Over the years, they’ve fine-tuned their monetization strategies in the original Path of Exile, and some of its bundles come with a similar cost. Clearly, there’s an audience willing to pay.

Yet, there’s an interesting twist that many might overlook. GGG is acknowledging the loyalty of its long-time players by offering a sweet perk. If you’ve spent $480 or more on Path of Exile’s microtransactions, you’ll snag yourself an early access key to the sequel. Granted, $480 is not a pocket change, but considering the game has been entertaining players for a decade, many devoted fans might have already spent close to that figure without even realizing it. When you do the math, it breaks down to about $48 a year or approximately $4 a month—not a huge sum when spread out over ten years.

While it doesn’t jump out as the most alluring offer at first glance, it’s a thoughtful gesture that appreciates the contributions of loyal fans. For those players who already have a treasure trove of purchases in the original Path of Exile, they can continue to enjoy those while also getting a head start on the new game. It’s a clever tactic that rewards player loyalty while also encouraging them to check out the sequel without shelling out extra cash. It’s a win-win scenario for GGG and their community.

At the end of the day, this strategy is not just savvy from a business standpoint, but it also bolsters GGG’s reputation for maintaining a fair approach to the free-to-play model. Throughout Path of Exile’s journey, the studio has consistently made decisions that prioritize player satisfaction—you’ll often find yourself saying, “They didn’t have to do this.”

Let this approach serve as a valuable lesson to other developers who might be prioritizing profits over their players’ experience.