When Diablo 4 first launched in June 2023, it made a big splash, captivating gamers and critics alike. However, the cheers soon turned to groans as post-launch updates stirred up considerable controversy. The debut season was titled “Season of the Malignant,” and it wasn’t exactly met with open arms by the devoted Diablo community. Fans were largely upset due to the sweeping changes that were made to the game’s class builds. The adjustments didn’t stop there; both Sorcerer and Barbarian classes took a hit with nerfs, XP for slaying high-level monsters was reduced, and some endgame challenges became much more daunting than before. This all made Season of the Malignant feel like a grind, drawing significant criticism from players, and prompted Blizzard to swiftly make changes in response to player feedback for the subsequent seasons.
While Diablo 4 is still ironing out some kinks, its recent patches have fared much better in the eyes of players compared to the rocky start of Season 1. Instead of stripping away existing features, these updates have introduced fresh content. The anticipation builds as we await the details of Diablo 4’s upcoming seventh season, although it hasn’t been officially announced yet. This season is expected to introduce new Witchcraft powers, essential quality-of-life improvements, and additional unique items for each class. Though we don’t have an exact release date yet, it’s likely to arrive soon after January 21, which marks the end of Season 6. Blizzard’s scheduling for this update seems strategic, avoiding direct competition with the rollout of Path of Exile 2.
Blizzard seems to have timed the launch of Diablo 4’s next season wisely, steering clear of a competitive overlap with Path of Exile 2, a game that’s been generating a lot of buzz in the gaming community. Developed by Grinding Gear Games, a company based in New Zealand, Path of Exile 2 is the much-anticipated sequel to the free-to-play ARPG that debuted over a decade ago. Like its predecessor and owing to its undeniable inspiration, it bears similarities with the Diablo series, particularly in its visual style and gameplay mechanics. Players are tasked with crafting distinctive character builds, hacking and slashing their way through waves of monsters in a dark fantasy world.
Path of Exile 2 made its debut in early access on December 6 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and it’s been off to a stellar start. Although it comes with a $30 price tag, unlike its free predecessor, the game has been attracting a massive number of players. During its launch week on Steam, it boasted over 570,000 active players, and its popularity shows no signs of waning. With a content-rich offering even at this early stage, it’s no surprise it’s holding firm with its player base.
According to HowLongToBeat, finishing Path of Exile 2’s main campaign will set players back roughly 30 hours. Dive into side quests, though, and you’re looking at anywhere between 40 and 70 hours of gameplay. This mirrors the length of Diablo 4’s story mode, yet Path of Exile 2 tantalizes with the promise of more to come. Currently, players can explore only half of its campaign, with the complete story slated to debut once the game leaves early access in 2025.
Given Path of Exile 2’s current grip on players’ attention, Blizzard would be wise to avoid releasing Diablo 4’s next season too close to its competitor’s launch. With so many Diablo enthusiasts caught up in exploring Path of Exile 2, they’re likely to put any Diablo updates on the back burner. Thus, aiming for a late January release for Season 7 seems prudent, allowing gamers ample time to wrap up Path of Exile 2’s main campaign and come back to Diablo 4 with renewed interest.
