During a recent preview and press roundtable for Path of Exile 2, game director Jonathan Rogers shared insights into the three-week delay of the game’s release. He delved into the technical hiccups that led to this decision, how the team might have managed to stick to the original timeline, and the financial implications involved.
Rogers explained, “We essentially misjudged how long it would take to merge Path of Exile 2 and 1’s realms. It’s frustrating because it didn’t seem like something that would cause a massive delay! Strange as it sounds, we might have pulled off the original launch date since the work is nearly done. But, it was getting too tight, too risky, so we felt postponing was necessary.”
This delay, however, brought unexpected joy to the game’s designers. “Naturally, when designers get an extra three weeks, they’re ecstatic,” Rogers noted. “They were thrilled to have more time to polish things up, thinking, ‘This will really enhance the game.’ The primary focus, though, was on behind-the-scenes tech, not the game itself.”
As directing the game, Rogers faced the tough decision to delay, knowing the considerable costs involved. “It’s a tough spot as a director. There’s immense pressure to stick to the schedule with all the marketing lined up, which isn’t cheap—like a 20% deposit on marketing commitments. But we decided it was crucial because not addressing these technical issues could have turned the launch into a disaster. Fingers crossed, we’ve avoided that,” Rogers shared.
When pushed for specifics on the costs, Rogers was reluctant but admitted, “I don’t want to dive into details, but let’s just say it’s likely over a million dollars. For instance, we had server commitments based on fixed dates, so now we’re paying for a month of server time we can’t use. There are just all these unexpected expenses.”
Rogers also expressed his personal regret over the delay, acknowledging its effect on eager fans. “It really impacted me because I know a lot of people plan their time off around these releases, but we had to take action given the risks involved.”
Reflecting on the tough call, it’s clear the potential fallout from unresolved issues justified the delay. Imagine the uproar if players couldn’t transfer PoE 1 purchases, or if other unforeseen tech problems arose on launch day. Although costly, the decision appears prudent.
What do you think about this delay? Are you glad Grinding Gear Games took this step? Share your thoughts below!
