Why POE2 is dying

One initial thought that may defend the other (the 2 reps from GGG of the interview) side perhaps...their remarks were quite intentional (despite the lack of empathy), and it was in doing so for the best for the future, i.e. prepare those that think there will be change and that it will be diff from PoE1 (end-game/mapping) but he already knows it's a lost cause (currently leaning towards they are in-the-know re. general community sentiments [and perhaps there really is nothing they can/will do]). However, playing devil's advocate, given the past history of PoE1 and what many others have said for their track record - this also isn't anything new in a way...so perhaps this is again no different, and history repeats itself once again (in due time).

To re-iterate (TLDR): post-interview, (personally) my current (until more data arrives from the community/YT/forums/Reddit/etc) bet will side on past history, i.e. "melee < ranged" and "zoom zoom 1-shot" -- so, no real changes from PoE1, essentially (with the main outlier of the campaign for the 1st ~60 lvls or so...lol --- and new melee classes like Druid/Templar/Marauder...lol [bye Warrior...lol {I don't count Monk...lol -- nor minion/Witch...lol}]) -- and timing-wise, I'll just say 2026+ (so, guessing 1 more year of gamedev until full Release post-this EA).

(Post this interview w/ the 2 GGG reps, I just decided to bite the bullet and re-rolled Monk [finally?] for SSF [felt the additional handicap of SSF would help Balance it out...lol. {Merc lvl ~64, Witch lvl 21, Warrior lvl 66 -- considering trying out the Quarterstaff for my Merc -- Re-spec Again...lol -- and yes, will still be on the lookout for future Druid/Templar/Marauder...lol}])

Still Applies months later. They can't get updates out fast enough and personally I think GGG is really stubborn and they will shoot themselves in the foot like this. Maybe 2 years from now POE 2 will pass below mediocrity and into an okay ARPG.

I think as-is the game is already the best ARPG. And I fully agree with most of OP's criticisms. There is a lot of room for improvement, which will only make it better. The people saying GGG doesnt care or isnt updating fast enough isnt being realistic, they are doing a lot of patches you guys are so balky.
-Theyve already improved maps, added citadel highlights, added zoom out features, made waystones more abundant
-Theyve stated theyre going to improve all uniques
-Theyre going to add more classes
-They added a map stash tab
-Heck they include many skins from the first game. What company does that?!

This game is awesome and you all need to be patient with positive and constructive criticism.

They added minimal zoom out while "fixing" the glitch that allowed more zoom. They essentially made it worse.

Map stash tabs were an obvious cash grab. Could have easily had it from day 1. Instead, they waited almost 3 months when they knew everyone already spent the 300 points and purchased more since the 300 is not enough for QOL in endgame. They waited until the demand was high and people were desperate.

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CovidPatientZero#0332 wrote:

They added minimal zoom out while "fixing" the glitch that allowed more zoom. They essentially made it worse.

Map stash tabs were an obvious cash grab. Could have easily had it from day 1. Instead, they waited almost 3 months when they knew everyone already spent the 300 points and purchased more since the 300 is not enough for QOL in endgame. They waited until the demand was high and people were desperate.

Sure buddy...

GGG waited almost 3 months to release the map tab because ppl without a map tab already spent their 300 points? Do you understand that ppl who spent their 300 points without thinking about a map tab spent it way earlier anyway?
How do you think this happened?

GGG staff 1: "Hey guys, let's release the map tab 3 months after EA start, so we have ppl buying points again because they spent their 300 points on other stuff already!"

GGG staff 2: "But... the few ppl who wasted all of their points without informing themselves what is important to get with these points are not so many and they probably spent their points in the first few weeks anyway."

GGG staff 3: "True, good point from staff 2. And why would we wait 3 months with something to sell when 80% of the player base is playing something else at this point, instead selling it when we have over 400k ppl enjoying the game!?"

GGG staff 1: "bEcAuSe!!!1!"

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JakkerONAIR#4902 wrote:

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CovidPatientZero#0332 wrote:

They added minimal zoom out while "fixing" the glitch that allowed more zoom. They essentially made it worse.

Map stash tabs were an obvious cash grab. Could have easily had it from day 1. Instead, they waited almost 3 months when they knew everyone already spent the 300 points and purchased more since the 300 is not enough for QOL in endgame. They waited until the demand was high and people were desperate.

Sure buddy...

GGG waited almost 3 months to release the map tab because ppl without a map tab already spent their 300 points? Do you understand that ppl who spent their 300 points without thinking about a map tab spent it way earlier anyway?
How do you think this happened?

GGG staff 1: "Hey guys, let's release the map tab 3 months after EA start, so we have ppl buying points again because they spent their 300 points on other stuff already!"

GGG staff 2: "But... the few ppl who wasted all of their points without informing themselves what is important to get with these points are not so many and they probably spent their points in the first few weeks anyway."

GGG staff 3: "True, good point from staff 2. And why would we wait 3 months with something to sell when 80% of the player base is playing something else at this point, instead selling it when we have over 400k ppl enjoying the game!?"

GGG staff 1: "bEcAuSe!!!1!"

There is no logic in your line of reasoning that assumes GGG planned for an 80% drop in players. Buying multiple premium tabs to use for holding maps = more $$ than 1 map tab. It also ensures that the players who do sick around are paying for more tabs they otherwise would never have purchased.

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CovidPatientZero#0332 wrote:

There is no logic in your line of reasoning that assumes GGG planned for an 80% drop in players. Buying multiple premium tabs to use for holding maps = more $$ than 1 map tab. It also ensures that the players who do sick around are paying for more tabs they otherwise would never have purchased.

Listen, that you or others burned points instead of asking one single time in global chat or a streamer or whatever:
"Hey, what's the best thing to spend my points on?"
is a YOU problem.
Everyone would've told you "Get a currency tab, wait for a map tab, and if you want a fragment tab too" besides a premium tab to list items for trade.

And if you can't/won't spend more than the 300 points given to you with the key, big brain move, inform yourself on what to spend these points and don't throw them out the window.

Furthermore, you actually don't need a map tab for a good experience in PoE2.
You blast through lower tier maps anyway, so a handful of maps is nothing you need to manage with a QoL tab and the moment you hit T15's and sustain them, it's not a big deal not having a map tab.
Sure, it's better because of the affinity ability, but not mandatory.

Just have a normal stash where you throw in your looted maps like this:


And have an organized tab where you put in your rolled prepared maps to run like this:


That ppl even think that GGG tried to pull off a scummy move with the waystone tab - is bonkers. What... for a few bucks pissing off the entire PoE1 community because they had the tab but it wasn't usable for months? Yeah... that's how you run a company, not.
One cool visual mtx would gain them more than such a stupid move.

It’s not dying

Wtf are you smoking? Have you looked at the Steam Charts recently? They are still regularly double PoE 1's numbers, not including base launcher numbers and other platforms. This game is still EVERYWHERE in the news, and all over Youtube and other social media. PoE 2 is the shit.

PoE 2 isn't dying in any way shape or form. That sounds like something a kid says when they are mad about something in a game that they love. That's why you're here complaining on the forum right? Because it's flooded with tens of thousands of people who love and are actively invested in the game. AND, the people who post here are only a TINY percentage of people who actively play.

Quite literally the opposite of what you are claiming is true. It has INSANE player retention for the state that it is in and having had no major content updates yet, and being in a very rough early access state. This game is going places, and the player count will SKYROCKET every time new content gets added, just like it does in new PoE 1 leagues. Players drop off slightly over time and then come back for new content/leagues. This is a good thing, and sought after behavior from GGG. They have a very loyal and invested playerbase.

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Clumpinator#4756 wrote:

Wtf are you smoking? Have you looked at the Steam Charts recently? They are still regularly double PoE 1's numbers, not including base launcher numbers and other platforms. This game is still EVERYWHERE in the news, and all over Youtube and other social media. PoE 2 is the shit.

PoE 2 isn't dying in any way shape or form. That sounds like something a kid says when they are mad about something in a game that they love. That's why you're here complaining on the forum right? Because it's flooded with tens of thousands of people who love and are actively invested in the game. AND, the people who post here are only a TINY percentage of people who actively play.

Quite literally the opposite of what you are claiming is true. It has INSANE player retention for the state that it is in and having had no major content updates yet, and being in a very rough early access state. This game is going places, and the player count will SKYROCKET every time new content gets added, just like it does in new PoE 1 leagues. Players drop off slightly over time and then come back for new content/leagues. This is a good thing, and sought after behavior from GGG. They have a very loyal and invested playerbase.

40k players right now down from half a mill a few months ago. Add in the fact that this game is insanely botted probably 10-15k actual players. Marval Rivals which came out around the same time is just shy of 300k players.

You cope addicts are wild. The game is crashing and burning at record pace and GGG either cant or wont fix it. Its actually impressive how hard this game is failing.