Path of Exile 2’s first major patch of the year will arrive later this week, addressing several common complaints from players about the endgame experience. Developer Grinding Gear Games aims to make endgame maps “more rewarding” with adjustments to loot and monster counts.

“It takes time to get there and that matters.”

One significant issue has revolved around the harsh penalties for dying. Currently, players get booted from endgame maps upon death, losing experience and loot. Rogers stated, “We did discuss quite a lot about whether we wanted to go back on one portal or not. I think it comes down to the fact that it would just not feel the same. The whole ‘death actually mattering’ thing is actually important.”

While the patch will allow players to retry endgame bosses and reduce sudden, fatal explosions, Graphical improvements and balance adjustments are set to follow in future updates.

Roberts acknowledged that the endgame’s difficulty may currently be excessive, saying, “Right now there are too many penalty axes.”

The developers are monitoring how players respond to these changes and are focused on making broader adjustments in the next season. However, it seems that the principle of maintaining significant consequences for death remains firmly in place.