Bug Report: Path of Exile 2 Controller Experience

Dear GGG Team,

I’d like to report several issues I’ve encountered while playing Path of Exile 2 using a controller. These problems have significantly impacted my gameplay experience, especially as someone who enjoys fast-paced mapping and challenging encounters. Below, I’ve provided a detailed breakdown of each issue:



1. Crossbow Reload and Shooting Issues
Problem:
Using a crossbow build with a controller feels clunky and inconsistent, especially when focusing on fast-paced gameplay. My shoot button is bound to X on my Xbox controller, and I rely on high-DPS skills like Galvanic Arrow and Herald to clear maps quickly. My playstyle involves moving rapidly and tapping the shoot button once to fire, clearing enemies as I go.

However, several frustrating issues arise:

Shooting Failure: Tapping X sometimes does not fire a bolt at all, even when bolts are available. This disrupts the flow of gameplay and makes the experience feel unreliable.
Reload Bug: After firing the last bolt, the crossbow often fails to reload automatically. This forces me to manually reload, breaking the momentum of combat.
Manual Reload Delay: Once I manually reload, there’s a 2-second delay before I can fire again. This delay often results in deaths, especially during fast-paced encounters where every second matters.
These issues significantly hinder the fluidity of mapping, making it feel like the controller mechanics are holding the gameplay back.

Workaround:
To avoid these problems, I’ve resorted to holding the shoot button instead of tapping it. While this mitigates the shooting failure, it severely limits my ability to move quickly, slowing down the entire mapping process. This workaround undermines the speed-focused gameplay that crossbows are designed to excel at.

Repro Steps:

Equip a crossbow with Galvanic Arrow or Herald.
Rapidly move through a map, tapping X to fire while maintaining high movement speed.
Observe instances where the character does not shoot or fails to reload after firing the last bolt.
Expected Behavior:

The crossbow should consistently fire whenever the shoot button is pressed.
Reloading should happen automatically after firing the last bolt, without requiring manual intervention or delays.
Fast-paced gameplay should not be disrupted by mechanical inconsistencies.



2. Inventory Sorting Bug in Trial of Chaos and Trial of Sekhemas
Problem:
When sorting items in the Trial of Chaos or Trial of Sekhemas using the Y button on the Xbox controller, items are incorrectly dropped to the ground instead of being moved to the stash or inventory.

Expected Behavior:
Pressing the Y button should move items directly into the inventory or stash, as intended, without dropping them on the ground.



3. Crossbow and Bow Weapon Swap Bug
Problem:
Swapping between a bow and a crossbow on a controller is prone to a severe bug that affects movement and abilities:

After using a skill with a bow (e.g., Shock) and swapping back to a crossbow, the character frequently experiences an extreme -90% movement speed penalty. This makes the character feel like they are stuck in slow motion.
The animation becomes glitched, with the character holding the crossbow as if it were a bow. This visual bug is accompanied by mechanical issues where abilities cannot be used.
The bug seems to occur most often when swapping back to a crossbow that has non-full bolts loaded (e.g., 6/7 bolts).
Once this bug occurs, the only way to resolve it is to reload the game, which completely disrupts gameplay.

Repro Steps:

Equip both a bow and a crossbow.
Use a skill with the bow (e.g., Shock).
Swap back to the crossbow with less-than-full bolts loaded.
Observe the extreme movement penalty, broken animation, and inability to use abilities.
Expected Behavior:

Swapping between weapons should function smoothly without introducing animation or movement penalties.
The character should remain fully functional after swapping weapons, regardless of the bolt count.




4. Controller Disconnection Issues in Maps and Breaches
Problem:
When the controller disconnects during gameplay, the game kicks me back to the login screen instead of pausing. This leads to lost progress, wasted resources, and frustration, especially during Breaches or rare maps.

Details:

If my controller dies or disconnects during gameplay, the game logs me out instantly, interrupting my session and causing me to lose progress.
This is particularly disruptive in time-sensitive encounters like Breaches, where losing progress means forfeiting rewards and potentially rare items.
While I understand that pausing the game isn’t feasible during pinnacle bosses or multiplayer, it feels unnecessary to lose progress in standard maps or solo content.
Expanded Understanding for Pinnacle Bosses:

In pinnacle boss fights or high-difficulty encounters, the no-pause mechanic is understandable. These areas are designed to maintain intensity, and preparation (like ensuring the controller is fully charged) is part of the challenge.
I fully accept that pausing isn’t an option in these scenarios and appreciate the importance of maintaining their difficulty and immersion.
Suggestions for Improvement:

Pause Gameplay Upon Disconnection in Non-Boss Content:
In regular maps, Breaches, and trials, the game should pause when a controller disconnects, allowing time to reconnect or replace batteries without losing progress.
Clear Distinction Between Pinnacle and Non-Pinnacle Content:
Introduce a warning or indicator for areas where pausing isn’t possible, so players can ensure their controllers are prepared.
Example of Impact:
Losing progress in a carefully prepared Tier 16 map or Breach encounter because of a controller dying feels unnecessary. This is even more frustrating after investing time, effort, and resources. Pausing in solo or non-pinnacle areas would significantly improve the experience.

Expected Behavior:

For Regular Content: The game should pause when a controller disconnects, preventing unnecessary interruptions.
For Pinnacle Content: No changes needed, as the current system aligns with their challenge and intensity.




5. Respawning in Trial of Sekhema
Problem:
After dying in the Trial of Sekhema, there is no convenient way to return to the trial’s entry point. The only option is to press Esc and manually log back in, which is both tedious and immersion-breaking.

Proposed Solution:
Add a button or prompt to allow players to quickly respawn at the trial’s entrance after dying. This would streamline the process and make it less frustrating for players.





6. Auto-Targeting Issues in Controller Mode
Problem:
When using ranged builds, my character often fails to target enemies correctly. Instead of locking onto the boss or a rare mob, it will shoot next to them or in the general direction my character is facing.

Expected Behavior:
Implement a lock-on mechanic that prioritizes:

Bosses in boss fights.
Rare enemies during mapping.
This would significantly improve the quality of life for controller players.




7. Crossbow Delay After Dodging
Problem:
Dodging while using a crossbow often results in a 1-2 second delay before I can fire again.

Details:

During mapping, I rely on crossbow abilities to clear mobs efficiently. However, when I need to dodge (e.g., to avoid rare mobs or large packs), the delay after dodging leaves me unable to attack.
This delay becomes particularly problematic in dense encounters like Breaches, where I’m surrounded by enemies and need to fire immediately to survive.
Expected Behavior:
Dodging should not interrupt or delay crossbow functionality, allowing for seamless combat.



Conclusion
These issues have made playing on a controller feel frustrating and unreliable, especially as a crossbow user. I hope this feedback helps improve the controller experience in Path of Exile 2. Thank you for your time and dedication to the game!