Game Features
- Completely free to download and play
- A persistent online world capable of supporting hundreds of thousands of players
- A dark and gritty game world rendered from a fixed 3D perspective
- Battle dozens of foes across a variety of unique areas
- Randomly generated levels and items for extreme replayability
- Online ranking and ladders for every game mode
- Visceral combat with dozens of combinable skills
- Battle in PVP tournaments for worldwide recognition
The guys at GameBanshee have been playing the Path of Exile Beta and have posted a preview with their thoughts. It's a great read, so if you're still waiting for beta access, please check it out.
We've deployed the 0.9.5 Beta patch today which overhauls the currency system in Path of Exile and allows players to sell items to vendors.
Today we deployed the 0.9.4 patch to the Path of Exile Closed Beta realm. This patch addresses many key balance concerns and fixes a variety of issues. We anticipate releasing many balance hotfixes over the next week or two in the leadup to 0.9.5.
The 0.9.4 patch will be deployed to Beta on December 5. We've posted the current patch notes here.
Today's deployment of the 0.9.3g patch added a European gateway to the Path of Exile Closed Beta realm. European players still play on the same realm as people on the American gateway, but are allocated to appropriate servers by default.
Hi, I am Carl de Visser, I started at Grinding Gear Games at the beginning of 0.9.3 development. I have been working with Chris on general game design and game balance. These are few notes, from my perspective, to expand on design features in the patch notes. Click here to read the complete entry.
With the deployment of 0.9.3 we've updated the Path of Exile website to have more accurate information about the game. Some notable changes are accurate information on Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence skills, Support Gems, Monster Auras, Item Prefix Mods, Item Suffix Mods, Currency items and the Beta Manifesto. More updates are on their way in the coming days.
Path of Exile has now entered the second phase of Closed Beta! The 0.9.3 patch has been deployed and is currently live on the servers. Final patch notes are here. We will be keeping an eye on server stability and will ramp up Beta invites as we push the server capacity.
The 0.9.3 patch will be deployed to Beta on November 14. We've posted the current patch notes here. They'll probably change somewhat over the next week. We're happy to answer questions about the patch notes in that thread!
This screenshot shows a Templar using a new unannounced skill in the Prison. If you kill a monster with this skill, it will convert the slain foe to fight on your side for a brief time. The monsters in this screenshot are enchanted by a physical damage reflection aura from a nearby rare monster. Click here to see the screenshot.
This next screenshot shows a Witch using the Firestorm skill in the Forest as seen on our 0.9.3 Alpha realm. Also visible are the new flask icons (they're different for each base flask type). Existing areas like this have been upgraded with new vegetation and environments. Click here to see the screenshot.
In the week (or so) leading up to the 0.9.3 patch, we're posting screenshots of new content and features. Today's screenshot shows a Ranger using the new skill "Rain of Arrows" in the newly revamped Terraces area. Click here to see the screenshot.
Feedback from the Closed Beta showed us that there were game balance issues that needed addressing alongside the addition of new features and content. While the features and content guys worked on hitting their own milestones, we assembled a strike team of three developers to perform a complete rebalance of Path of Exile for the upcoming 0.9.3 patch. In the process of doing this rebalance, it became clear that many fundamental game systems needed changing to take into account feedback. This article explains what we’ve changed so far and why. Click here to read the complete entry.
The 0.9.2 patch hit the Alpha realm today, and is due to be deployed to Beta pretty early next week. Among other changes, it includes several new skills (mostly curses). We uploaded a video that demonstrates two of the skills.
TotalBiscuit of the immensely popular YouTube channel CynicalBrit has posted a lengthy video about Path of Exile. We strongly recommend checking it out!
PAX Prime is an overwhelmingly awesome gaming expo held each year in Seattle. We attended in 2010 to promote Path of Exile (a few days after its announcement), but quickly learnt that it would have really helped to have a booth to attract journalists to. This year, we returned with a booth and a stack of 2400 Closed Beta DVDs to give to fans. Click here to read the complete entry.
Here is the B-roll footage we prepared for PAX Prime 2011. It features PvP and cooperative PvE combat in a variety of areas. The video has no sound because we didn't need sound for the video playing in the booth.
Mike Thompson from the Escapist tried Path of Exile and had a chat with Chris at our busy booth at PAX. Read the article here!
Grinding Gear Games will be attending the PAX Prime Expo in Seattle from August 26-28. We have a booth (#799) with many computers set up for you to play Path of Exile. In addition to the existing PvE content from the Beta, our experimental team PvP arenas will be enabled for you to try out. We will be distributing DVDs with copies of the Closed Beta (including a key) to people who come play the game. We look forward to seeing you there! Journalists: please contact media@grindinggear.com to arrange a preview!
Last week, Flux from The Diablo Podcast interviewed Path of Exile's Lead Designer Chris Wilson. The podcast episode has just been posted, check it out!
Today's screenshot shows a Witch using Raise Spectre to summon spectral versions of some zombies in the Mud Flats. Click here to see the screenshot.
With the Closed Beta fast approaching, we felt it was time to announce our plans for Player vs. Player combat in Path of Exile. Although PvP won’t be included in the very first version of the Beta, we’re working hard to get it all implemented and tested as soon as possible so that players can enjoy it before the Open Beta begins. Click here to read the complete entry.
Today's screenshot shows some PvP combat between a Marauder and a Witch in Act Two. The Witch has cast Frost Wall to block off an area and is trying to freeze the Marauder with Cold Snap, but he is closing in with Leap Slam. Click here to see the screenshot.
We're pleased to announce that the Closed Beta will begin on August 10th (American time). Anyone with an account on this site will be eligible for selection. We have also uploaded a 90 second gameplay video showing a spellcaster Templar attacking Alira's bandit camp in Act Two. He uses Frost Wall to keep them at a distance while he kills them with Shock Nova.
In addition to this week's upcoming screenshot, we've also prepared a video showing a minute of exploration and combat in Act Two's Church Dungeon. The Duelist uses Viper Strike, Double Strike, Cleave and Leap Slam to fight a group of zombies and spiders.
Anthony from IGN has been playing the Alpha build of Path of Exile and has posted a preview with his thoughts of the game so far. Thanks!
Today's screenshot shows a Templar using a previously unannounced skill in an Act Two dungeon. Shock Nova is a lightning spell that causes a ring of energy to expand from the caster. It deals lightning damage to foes, ramping up in damage as it expands. The damage is highest towards the maximum radius of the spell. Click here to see the screenshot.
Today's screenshot shows a Templar using the Spark skill to clear a room in Act Two's Church Dungeon. The sparks rebound off walls until they hit a target, causing substantial lightning damage. Click here to see the screenshot.
This week's screenshot shows a Templar running from the waypoint into Act Two's town. One of the native townspeople can be seen above the player, holding a spear. This area hadn't been shown publicly before the Templar announcement last week. Click here to see the screenshot.
IGN have posted an exclusive trailer announcing The Templar, our Strength/Intelligence hybrid character class!
Today's screenshot shows a Duelist casting Detonate Dead on some bandits near Alira's Camp in Act Two. It's a pretty dark area, but is occasionally illuminated by light beams like the one that can be seen on the left. Click here to see the screenshot.
This week's screenshot shows a Ranger using yet another previously unannounced skill. Poison Arrow allows the a bow-user to create an area of poisonous clouds that deal chaos damage over time to enemies who walk through them. In this screenshot, the Ranger is fighting an early quest boss in Act One. Click here to see the screenshot.
This week's screenshot shows a Marauder using a previously unannounced skill in the Mud Flats. Enduring Cry taunts all nearby monsters to attack the caster, and grants him endurance charges based on how many monsters are nearby. It is designed to encourage Strength-aligned characters to wade into the thick of combat and endure damage for their team. Click here to see the screenshot.
In early June, our lead programmer Jonathan Rogers and our terrain programmer Rhys Abraham gave a presentation at the Auckland Game Developers' Meetup, focussing on the random level generation system that we use in Path of Exile. The talk was recorded, and despite the quality being really bad, we decided to upload it to YouTube anyway. One thing to note - the crazy square shadow flickering is a known problem on that laptop's graphics card. The game does not do that all the time!
Today's screenshot shows a Witch using a previously unannounced skill in the Rocky Climb. Ice Spear is a powerful projectile spell that pierces through enemies, chilling them. At a certain distance, it changes behaviour and will explode on contact with the first enemy it hits. Click here to see the screenshot.
This week's screenshot shows an axe-and-sword-wielding Duelist using Dual Strike on spiders in an unannounced Act Two area. Click here to see the screenshot.
A few weeks ago, we deployed a major update to the Path of Exile Alpha realm and invited a dozen or so lucky forum members (and many of their friends) to help test it. This development diary entry describes how we’ve handled the transition from development to maintaining a live game service that supports players playing from around the world. Click here to read the complete entry.
Today's screenshot takes place in a previously unannounced dungeon underneath a ruined church in Act Two. The Duelist is attacking some skeletons with Double Strike. Equipped with a shield, he's able to block incoming arrows while attacking rapidly with his scimitar. Click here to see the screenshot.
This week's screenshot shows a Duelist using Dual Strike on some bandits near a bridge in Act Two, as an arrow passes by him. Click here to see the screenshot.
