![]() Having to discover this information was a foundation for community discussion and tool creation, theorycrafting and more. Part of that arose from necessity - its wiki, market tools, build crafting programs, all exist on some level because PoE is deliberately designed to obfuscate information that it doesn’t want its players having easy access to, which at the beginning of the Path of Exile's life was a draw for its player base. It is interesting then, as Path of Exile has one of the most dedicated and obsessed game communities around. Throughout it all, Path of Exile gives the impression that obsession, whether it be concerned with power and security, wealth and status, or lineage and history, can and will drive you mad if you let it. “This obsession is reflected in Path of Exile's story dark magic, reawakened and maddened gods, scientists seeking immortality through human sacrifice, and the creation of eldritch artifacts through blood and death. If there’s one thing Path of Exile teaches, it’s that letting your obsessions rule you is a terrible idea with dire consequences. “Diablo exiles”, as they are called lovingly by the community, have perhaps learned a lesson about trust and obsession that will carry them well as they move forward into Wraeclast. As far as the ARPG space is concerned, Path of Exile rules the roost. ![]() However, this time feels different distinctly because, aside from Torchlight Frontiers in early 2019, there is little competition coming down the pipe from other companies. It’s a well-trod story, familiar to veteran PoE players that have been around since beta. GGG possesses a distinct design aesthetic and passion that has remained consistent over years of development time, with many proclaiming it as a true successor to gritty ARPGs of days past. Regardless, the community and the gaming sphere at large has run with the narrative that Path of Exile is picking up where Diablo 2 and 3 left off. Grinding Gear Games has gone on record saying the names of the league and its antagonists are coincidental and were picked prior to Blizzcon’s Diablo Immortal fiasco. “The irony has not been lost on Path of Exile’s players. Its newest league, Betrayal, has players teaming up with new allies against a mysterious faction called the Immortal Syndicate. It features six character archetypes with an unlockable seventh, abundant skills with complex methods of enhancing or changing them, and an extensive and memetic skill tree that has amazed and scared newcomers for years. ![]() Disappointed and left without direction, many Diablo 3 players who were looking forward to a potential sequel instead looked elsewhere to get their ARPG fix, eventually finding solace in Path of Exile, with PoE’s community welcoming them with open arms.Path of Exile is an online ARPG developed and published by New Zealand-based Grinding Gear Games, released on PC in 2013, ported to the Xbox One in 2017, with a PS4 release sometime early 2019. Despite its best intentions, Blizzard’s initial news of a Diablo mobile game hit the ground with a thud, and the weeks it spent scrambling to salvage the situation didn't help matters. The recent announcement of Diablo Immortal sent quakes of doubt, hesitation, and anger throughout much of the games community.
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