This is not a drill: Path of Exile 2 is about to enter early access. How do we know? Grinding Gear Games said as much over on Steam. The plan is to announce the exact release date in a livestream in about a month’s time, so you may want to follow and wishlist the game right now, in case you miss it.

The livestream will go over the exact early access launch plans, including the date, and all of the content you can experience while the team builds towards the full launch.

Here’s the potentially bad news: early access won’t be free for all players. Instead, you will have to purchase one of many Supporter Packs, which provide you with a key. However, there is a method of getting in for free: by passing a threshold of lifetime support. What does that mean? We couldn’t tell you. Grinding Gear will likely go over it during the livestream though.

How is Path of Exile 2 Different From the Original?

So what is Path of Exile 2 and why does the Diablo-like need a sequel in the first place? Well, the key upgrade here are those visuals: it’s a generational leap over the original, which still looks fantastic to this day. The sequel also features a brand new campaign to play through, that plays out over six acts.

Expect to explore a wide variety of new environments, take on tons of additional monsters, and tackle bosses that look a lot more gruesome and terrifying than its predecessor. You will do so as one of 12 different character classes: Warrior, Ranger, Huntress, Sorceress, Mercenary, Monk, Druid, Witch, Duelist, Templar, Marauder, and Shadow.

Each class can specialise as one of three different Ascendancies, and you can customise them with a wide variety of skill gems and gear to further nudge them towards your preferred play style. The real meat of that lies within the skill system though, which returns in all of its glory. Now though, you can specialise in multiple weapon or skill types, if you felt the original wasn’t quite complicated enough.

The OG Path of Exile will continue to function alongside the sequel, with both receiving expansions and new content moving forward. Grinding Gear Games is even going a step further, allowing you to purchase content across both games at once, rather than having to buy the same thing twice. Other free games should take note.

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