In a newly released developer Q&A, Path of Exile 2 fans were treated to a wealth of information about the game’s future, particularly the much-anticipated patch 0.3.0. From massive skill buffs to campaign reworks, endgame content revisions, and new features for casual and hardcore players alike, Grinding Gear Games has laid out a clear roadmap for what's coming next.
One of the biggest complaints in POE2 has been how underpowered and unfun many skills feel. That’s changing in 0.3.0. The devs acknowledged that many builds feel weak due to lackluster skill scaling and synergy. Patch 0.3.0 will buff numerous underused skills to make them more viable, with a focus on endgame scaling and build diversity.
They also admitted that the previous patch (0.2.0) focused too heavily on adding new classes, leaving existing ascendancies undercooked. Patch 0.3.0 shifts the focus to enhancing current ascendancies and rebalancing passive skill trees to be more exciting and impactful.
A major pain point in POE2 has been campaign repetition and pacing. The devs confirmed that the "cruel difficulty" layer will be removed soon, streamlining progression. Furthermore, they are actively working to speed up the early game and offer a smoother experience, particularly for those trying out multiple classes.
New crafting tutorials are also coming to help ease new players into the complex systems without making the game feel like it's holding your hand.
Endgame And Atlas Overhaul
Feedback around Path of Exile’s Atlas-based endgame being repetitive has not gone unheard. Developers stated that they are actively developing fresh ways to make maps feel unique, with new events and surprises in development. There’s also a plan to fix the poor loot quality from pinnacle bosses by introducing more desirable chase uniques.
Minion builds and melee gameplay are also getting some much needed attention. The team is reworking minion AI, addressing issues like collision and survivability. As for melee classes, while two-handed maces are meant to be slow, new weapon types (like axes and swords) will balance out the melee meta.
Trading, Crafting, and System Improvements
Trading remains a controversial issue, and the developers are cautiously approaching improvements. A new system similar to Alva trade (which uses gold to curb inflation) is being prototyped to allow easier, more in-game trading.
Crafting, another core part of POE2, will be expanded. New currencies and systems will be introduced with future expansions, and underused mechanics like Essences are being redesigned for better engagement.
The studio also confirmed they are working on:
Death logs
In-game item filters
Pause systems for inspecting combat data
Fixes for Evasion visuals and feedback
Multiplayer-friendly mechanics (though not large-scale 10+ player dungeons)
Chinese Server Plans and Team Expansion
On the international front, POE2’s Chinese server is launching this year and will include localized pricing and regional elements. To support the game's expansion, Grinding Gear Games has significantly grown its development team and implemented fixed update deadlines to ensure consistency between POE1 and POE2’s alternating content cycles.
Patch 0.3.0 represents a pivotal moment in Path of Exile 2’s early access journey. Grinding Gear Games is clearly listening to community feedback and making big, necessary changes. Whether you're a hardcore veteran or a curious newcomer, there’s a lot to be excited about in the next major update.
Stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for more details as Patch 0.3.0 gets closer to release and get ready to revisit Path Of Exile 2 in a whole new way.