Backlash Against "Dawn of the Hunt" Update
Grinding Gear Games (GGG) has been forced to implement emergency changes for Path of Exile 2 following severe player backlash against the Dawn of the Hunt expansion. Despite introducing exciting new content—including the hybrid melee/ranged Huntress class, five new Ascendancies, and over 100 unique items—the update has drawn heavy criticism for drastically slowing gameplay and reducing rewards. Steam user reviews have nosedived to "Mostly Negative," with players calling the current state of the game a "total slog."
Community Outcry Over Slowed Gameplay
The most upvoted Steam review from the past 30 days summarizes the frustration:
"Boss fights drag on far too long, most skills feel weak, and the game just isn’t fun in its current state. I doubt I’ll last a week in this league." Another player sarcastically remarked, "If you enjoy punishment with no reward, this game is perfect for you."
Longtime fans argue that Dawn of the Hunt has exacerbated existing issues, such as oversized maps, sluggish movement, and restrictive combat mechanics. While some players previously circumvented these problems through creative builds, the latest update has reinforced forced combo gameplay, limiting build diversity—a stark contrast to Path of Exile 1’s celebrated flexibility.
Loot Nerfs and Diminished Rewards
One of the most contentious changes involves loot drops. Previously, rare enemies and bosses provided reasonable rewards, but the update has drastically reduced item and currency drops. Players report killing high-tier enemies only to receive minimal or no valuable loot, making progression feel unrewarding.
A veteran player with over 5,000 hours in PoE 1 expressed disappointment:
"I love GGG, but I can’t recommend PoE 2 to anyone right now. The developers ignored feedback on movement speed and map size until the backlash became impossible to ignore."
GGG’s Response: Emergency Patch Incoming
Facing mounting criticism, GGG has announced additional fixes in the 0.2.0e patch, set to release on April 11. While the studio has not detailed all adjustments, players expect improvements to combat pacing, loot drops, and overall stability.
Can the Update Salvage Player Sentiment?
The big question is whether these changes will be enough to reverse the negative trend. Path of Exile 2 initially saw record-breaking player numbers, but the recent backlash has even impacted development on PoE 1, which still maintains a dedicated fanbase.
For now, the community remains divided—some hopeful that GGG will listen and adapt, others skeptical after what they perceive as repeated missteps. The upcoming patch will be a crucial test of whether Path of Exile 2 can regain player trust or if further adjustments will be needed to restore its reputation.
Key Expected Fixes in Patch 0.2.0e:
- Combat speed adjustments
- Increased loot drop rates
- Bug fixes and performance improvements
The fate of PoE 2’s early reception now hinges on how effectively GGG addresses these concerns.
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