Path of Exile 2: Gameplay Preview and What Will Be Changed

Mark your calendars for April 8th at 1 PM PDT when Grinding Gear Games unveils the highly anticipated Path of Exile 2. Today, MmoGah provides an exclusive deep dive into the gameplay preview originally showcased at ExileCon in November 2019, giving exiles their first comprehensive look at the sequel’s evolution.

Our demonstration begins around level 11, approximately midway through Act 1’s progression. Immediately upon entering the Graveyard area, the dramatic visual enhancements become apparent. Path of Exile has undergone a complete graphical transformation, with environments, characters, and PoE Items now utilizing physically-based rendering technology that delivers unprecedented realism throughout the game world.

Character models receive comprehensive updates featuring entirely new animations and item-based visual types. Advanced physics systems bring intricate details to life, from flowing capes to dynamic environmental interactions, creating a significantly more immersive experience.

Skill effects demonstrate remarkable attention to detail through sophisticated particle systems. When executing Split Arrow, each projectile behaves uniquely—some embedding into surfaces while others ricochet with realistic trajectory physics.

The 4.0 campaign introduces numerous optional side-quests that culminate in meaningful boss encounters. Soon we encounter Lachlann, an NPC grappling with the mysterious disappearance of his family members.

“My family… where are they? Isabel the boys were only to be gone for a few minutes, but it has been… I don’t even know how long. Hours at least. Days? Weeks? What season is it? Stranger, I know we just met, but I’m so worried about them. Around here, they could have fallen into a sinkhole or been choked by gravedust. Please, could you see to their safety?”

Beyond visual enhancements, Path of Exile 2 implements foundational changes to the core skill mechanics. The development team has long sought to address inherent limitations while preserving the system’s celebrated versatility—a challenging balance between innovation and maintaining beloved functionality.

Examining the inventory reveals a fundamental shift: items no longer contain sockets. Instead, skill gems themselves feature sockets, with a dedicated interface screen for managing gem connections and support relationships.

This architectural change creates substantial advantages for character building. Crucially, every item in PoE 2 can function as a 6-link, dramatically altering build design philosophy. Previously, players typically limited themselves to one primary attack skill due to socket constraints; now multiple powerful primary attacks become strategically viable.

Item management receives significant quality-of-life improvements. When swapping between bows, each automatically provides four green sockets without requiring gem reconfiguration. Real-time DPS calculations update instantly during equipment changes, providing immediate feedback on performance impacts.

New players benefit from built-in protection against configuration errors—support gems cannot be socketed into incompatible skills, preventing frustrating build mistakes early in the learning curve.

For veteran players managing aura configurations, Meta gems provide sophisticated solutions. These advanced gems function as super-support gems capable of housing multiple active skills simultaneously. A single proficiency gem can contain several auras, with the ability to activate them collectively through one key binding.

The hunting grounds showcase one of the most requested features: shape-shifting capabilities. Each transformation form integrates seamlessly with existing attack skills—the Werewolf form demonstrates compatibility with leap slam and cleave abilities. Transformations occur seamlessly during combat, allowing players to shift forms mid-skill execution with responsive button-press activation.

Environmental technology receives substantial upgrades, particularly in vegetation rendering. Advanced pre-computed ray tracing techniques create realistic grass interactions while maintaining optimized performance compared to previous rendering methods.

This preview represents merely a fraction of PoE 2’s complete experience. The full game release is projected for 2022 or beyond. Meanwhile, visit mmogah.com for comprehensive PoE Guides preparing for the Ultimatum league, alongside access to affordable PoE Currency resources.

Strategic Tip: When planning your PoE 2 builds, consider how the universal 6-link availability enables hybrid playstyles previously impractical under socket limitations.

Common Mistake Avoidance: Don’t underestimate the value of flex sockets during leveling—these automatically adapt to your current gem configuration, significantly reducing inventory management overhead.

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