Path of Exile 2’s Early Access Plan Sparks Debate, Yet Offers Unique Rewards for Loyal Players

Even if Path of Exile hasn’t landed on your gaming playlist, you’ve probably heard whispers of its famously extensive passive skill tree. It’s also likely you’ve encountered the frequent praise it receives as a standout free-to-play game that respects its audience rather than exploiting them.

Path of Exile is frequently held up as the gold standard in fair free-to-play gaming. It offers players the option to purchase gameplay features and cosmetics without compromising the overall experience.

But even with all this goodwill, the price of Path of Exile 2’s supporter packs might make you do a double take. Sure, they start at a modest $30, but they soar up to a staggering $480! It’s true that some tiers include physical goodies, yet even stripping those away leaves you with prices well above the typical free-to-play asking price.

The value set for these bundles ultimately rests with Grinding Gear Games. The developer wouldn’t price them like that without some assurance they’d fly off the shelves. Over the years, through the original Path of Exile, they’ve honed their approach to monetization, even offering some pricey bundles there too. Clearly, there’s a loyal audience ready to invest.

What’s even more intriguing is how GGG acknowledges its player community’s past contributions. For anyone who’s spent $480 or more on Path of Exile microtransactions, there’s an early access key for the sequel awaiting. At first blush, that seems a steep price, but given the game’s decade-long run, myriad longtime players might already have invested around that figure without even knowing. Broken down, that’s $48 annually, or merely $4 monthly — a small investment in gaming terms.

It might not seem the most enticing offer right off the bat, yet it’s a nod to the existing community’s dedication and financial input. With Path of Exile remaining accessible, players continue to enjoy past purchases while getting a head start in the sequel, sans further cost. It rewards loyalty and fosters a deeper connection with GGG. Almost feels like a win-win, doesn’t it?

Ultimately, GGG’s choice is astute business-wise, while also cementing their status as champions of fair play in the free-to-play realm. A deep dive into their monetization decisions over time will reveal moments where their actions prompt a, “They didn’t have to do that,” response — a positioning GGG obviously strives for.

This should serve as a lesson to the multitude of developers prioritizing profit over their gamer’s experiences.