Summary
Diablo 4came out around one year and a half ago, and it immediately sparked many conversations regarding the action RPG genre. Now thatPath of Exile 2has been out in early access for over a month, the same is happening all over again, especially since this is an incomplete game that will get more content over time.Comparisons betweenDiablo 4andPath of Exile 2are inevitable, both because of their shared genre and because they very much share a lot of DNA thanks to each game’s emphasis on going back to the roots, which meansDiablo 2. Both games are now technically competing for yet anotherDiablo 2throwback, andPath of Exile 2may win the race.
Diablo 4’s starting roster of classes comprised the Sorcerer, the Druid, the Barbarian, the Necromancer, and the Rogue, each with their dedicated skill trees to upgrade for more abilities and passive effects. The Spiritborn wasDiablo 4’s sixth class from its Vessel of Hatred expansion, and while it’s a unique mixture of various elements from the franchise’s history, it’s not the highly anticipated Crusader/Paladin archetype.Path of Exile 2already has its answer to fill that void, and whether or not it comes beforeDiablo 4’s, Blizzard’s ARPG may be in trouble.
Why Path of Exile 2 is Primed to Take Diablo 4 Fans By Storm
Path of Exile 2features six base classesand two Ascendancies for each of them, with the plan being to add six more classes total and their respective Ascendancies and weapon archetypes. Grinding Gear Games' new standalone sequel has skyrocketed to the top of Steam charts on launch, with an average of over 400,000 concurrent players, making it a smashing hit.Diablo 4’s player numbers have been dwindling over time, and Vessel of Hatred’s additions didn’t manage to retain many players. As such, it desperately needs a seventh class - the Crusader or Paladin.
Diablo’s Crusader and Paladinare arguably two sides of the same coin, and while they do have some key differences, they are ultimately the same class archetype.Path of Exile 2’s predecessor already had the Templar to draw from these themes, and now the sequel is inevitably going to add it back into the roster of classes at some point during early access or upon the game’s full release. What follows is thatPath of Exile 2is now in a prime position to deliver this class because, unlikeDiablo 4, it’s a matter of when rather than if.
Diablo 4 Needs to Reveal Its Next Class and Expansion Sooner Rather Than Later
Some fans even speculated thatDiablo 4’s witchcraft themes for Season 7may be foreshadowing the return of the Witch Doctor class, or some new spin on it. Since there is no confirmation yet about possible new classes inDiablo 4, nor has the next chapter of the game been announced just yet, it’s hard to consider the Crusader or Paladin as “confirmed,” regardless of fan feedback and how vocal some players have been about it. It remains a likely possibility, but ifDiablo 4’s next expansion launches around one year after Vessel of Hatred, it’s still going to be around nine months away from now.
Diablo 4’s Next Class Addition May Find Itself Between The Hammer and The Anvil
It’s equally possible thatPath of Exile 2’s additional classes, including the Templar, will see the light of day much further ahead, which would give Blizzard all the time to fill the niche of a modern take on the Crusader/Paladin archetype before its competition. Still,Path of Exile 2is seeing a lot of support from its devs and success among fans, which doesn’t bode well forDiablo 4. IfPath of Exile 2launches its Templar class earlier thanDiablo 4does, it could kill some of the hype for it; at the same time, if it comes out afterward, it could stealDiablo 4’s thunder.
Path of Exile II
WHERE TO PLAY
Path of Exile 2 is a next generation free-to-play Action RPG created by Grinding Gear Games. Journey across the deadly continent of Wraeclast, meeting multiple immersive cultures while facing off against evil in many forms. Path of Exile 2 features twelve character classes, 240 Skill Gems, hundreds of equipment base types, a six-act campaign, more than a hundred unique boss fights, a deep endgame system and so much more. Play with your friends without losing any progress with couch co-op, cross-play and cross-progression.
