Unhealthy information, Path of Exile 1 gamers. It appears as if the subsequent main replace for the beloved ARPG has been delayed, with no launch date given. This, in keeping with sport director Jonathan Rogers, being largely because of the developer specializing in the launch and post-launch assist of Path of Exile 2.
In a video posted to the official Path of Exile Twitter, Rogers explains why this has occurred. The unique intent was to juggle each video games without delay, however with the all-hands-on-deck method taken with Path of Exile 2 workers who would often be engaged on the subsequent Path of Exile 1 growth have been busy on the sport’s sequel.
“The perfect time to launch 326 would have been late October, earlier than the initially scheduled launch of PoE2’s early entry. However we simply did not suppose we might do it – it was simply to shut to the massive circus that was the group round PoE2’s launch. We additionally did not wish to launch it proper after PoE2 both, in order that form of dominated out December.”
“Then we’re pondering, we will not actually launch in January as a result of Christmas, so we’re actually going to should do it in February. This wasn’t nice. It might imply seven months with no leagues, however we actually did not suppose it was attainable to do it any sooner than that.” Rogers would state that, whereas no official affirmation of this objective was said, it was conveyed over time informally so {that a} obscure understanding of this objective was circulating the group.
Nevertheless, it appears even this February objective is now out of attain, because the POE1 workers introduced over to assist with POE2 weren’t taken off the staff forward of launch. Rogers explains. “The issue is we acquired to the center of October and the discharge of POE2 was imminent, and I will let you know what, taking folks off POE2 at that time was unimaginable. The tip sport was not in a shippable state.” Rogers would go on to state that even so, the staff believed they may nonetheless hit that February objective after POE2 launched.
“The issue is, we had been fooling ourselves. POE2 was delayed 3 weeks making the issue even worse, and instantly after the sport’s launch we needed to cope with all the issues. How might we take into consideration making a POE1 growth after we nonetheless had a whole lot of hundreds of individuals having unhealthy experiences in POE2?”
The video concludes with an apolagy, and the revelation that the subsequent POE1 growth is one thing the staff continues to be aspiring to do (and is doing pre-production on) however has no launch date. This, as you’ll be able to think about, has made many POE1 followers relatively upset. Earlier than POE2’s launch, Rogers had said the staff supposed to assist each video games so long as gamers stored enjoying POE1. Although given the inevitable deal with POE2 and potential league delays because of this, might you blame POE1 gamers for leaping ship? Particularly after they really feel a promise has been damaged? Over half a yr with no new league and new content material is a very long time on the earth of reside service.
Add on high of this the chance that new gamers will select POE2 over POE1, it being the newer, shinier sport with extra assist. Positive, POE1 could maintain getting assist so long as there are sufficient gamers to warrant it, however whether or not or not gamers wish to hold round a sport that feels as if it is on the again burner is an issue GGG should sort out.
What do you consider all this? Would you stick round POE1 on this place? Tell us beneath.
