If Path of Exile 2 is free to play, then not only does it follow in the footsteps of the original ARPG, but it also shows the community’s willingness and trust in supporting the eagerly awaited follow-up. Making PoE 2 free would be a huge decision, so let’s dissect Grinding Gear Games’ strategy.
Free to play has become the norm over the last decade. I remember PS4’s Warframe being free to play, and I couldn’t wrap my head around the decision to make a AAA title free. Now, everyone’s doing it, and it’s because the business model is highly sustainable—sometimes.
Path of Exile 1 was released in 2013, it was free to play, and it worked like a charm. Now, in 2024, it’s sequel time, and Path of Exile 2‘s free-to-play status is one of the biggest questions.
Will Path of Exile 2 be Free to Play?
Path of Exile 2 is free to play, and like its predecessor, requires no money to play, and its main way of generating income is through optional microtransactions.
After years of supporting the first game, the developer decided it was time for a sequel. The acclaim and adulation PoE received meant it was entirely feasible for Grinding Gear Games to make PoE 2 a pay-to-play adventure.
Path of Exile continually gained in popularity after its release, and Steam Charts shows PoE has barely dipped below 10,000 players a day on Steam since Jan. 2017. The numbers have regularly dipped into the 60K and 70K region—achieving 76,501 concurrent players in August 2024!
The developer clearly trusts the PoE community, so this is presumably why Path of Exile 2 is once again free to play. If you do intend to support PoE 2, various Supporter Packs are available to buy with the cheapest one offering 300 Points and an Early Access Key.
Conversely, the King of the Faridun Supporter Pack includes the following:
- 1000 Points.
- A Hideout
- A Portal Effect
- Early Access to Path of Exile 2
- Level-up Effect
- Three Pets
- Three Weapon Skins
- Two Armour Sets
- Two Back Attachments
- Two Badges
- Two Forum Titles
- Two Hideout Decorations
- Two Portrait Frames
Path of Exile 2’s future doesn’t necessarily hinge on selling extras, but this surely goes a long way to helping its stability. I’ve no idea how PoE 2 is going to perform compared to the classic before it, but it’s going to be interesting to find out.
Are you buying any microtransactions to support PoE 2? Share your thoughts. Plus, keep an eye out for other handy Path of Exile 2 guides including a complete guide to its cross-platform settings, as well as a rundown of the PC requirements.
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