In the past, you might have been afraid to try Path of Exile 1 because of its overly complex mechanics and content, although its overall reviews were good. At the end of 2024, the highly anticipated POE 2 was finally meet you! Although it is still in the early access stage, it seems easier to get started than the first game.
But then you may face a new problem, that is, what device should you use to play Path of Exile 2? Because it can be played both on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S platforms. For now, it is most likely that you have a PC device, so we will first introduce you to the PC performance of POE 2.
What Are The Highlights Of POE 2 Itself?
Before choosing devices, perhaps you should first understand why POE 2 is worth playing. As a sequel to the first game, it does not closely continue the previous mechanics and plot, but finds a balance between solving old shortcomings and retaining the essence of fan favorites, so that both old players and newcomers can be satisfied. Because as you know, the complexity of the original game is daunting.
But you don’t have to worry about POE 2 not being challenging. It can even be said that the improved system and gameplay are not only easier to get started but also have good depth. And to ensure your gaming experience, the game also brings more channels for POE 2 Currency farming, avoiding the dilemma of insufficient currency that you may encounter in the first game.
How Is Its PC Performance?
If you are a player who doesn’t like controllers, please rest assured that you can get a good POE 2 experience on PC through the mouse and keyboard WASD keys. In fact, according to the test results, it can be expected that if you plan to play POE 2 on PC, you should not encounter too many performance issues. Even on a mid-range PC, you can get a great experience, although Path of Exile 2 takes up a lot of memory.
There is no doubt that this is entirely because the game developers have made all-out efforts to optimize the sequel based on POE 1, whether it is NVIDIA DLSS/DLAA, NVIDIA Image Scaling (NIS), AMD’s FSR, Intel’s XeSS or dynamic resolution scaling, they have all been fully upgraded. Even if you may encounter performance issues, the game also provides you with many options to adjust and upgrade.
However, while playing the game, although you should be unlikely to encounter performance issues such as visual glitches, slowdowns or stuttering, server interruptions are not 100% avoidable, such as downtime for maintenance or problems such as the server being unable to handle the load. But these are beyond the control of the game and you should not blame it.
Can Couch Co-op Be Played On PC?
Since Path of Exile 1, the series has been committed to providing a multiplayer experience and has been very popular, so the second part continues this tradition. But in fact, multiplayer online games are not your only option - now you can play POE 2 with your friends through couch co-op mode!
However, since many games do not support couch co-op on PC, you may be worried, but the good news is that POE 2 can do it. As long as you have a working keyboard and mouse, then let your friend decide whether to use an existing character on your account or create a new one. Once determined, the game will proceed smoothly, just like when you play the single-player game.
However, it should be noted that couch co-op mode brings some mechanical changes, such as loot is shared, not personal. This means that whether you get POE 2 Exalted Orbs or other more precious orbs after the battle, there will be a short time window won’t disappear until someone pick up the drop, so you need to discuss with your teammates to decide the distribution plan of the items. In addition, enemies and bosses in couch co-op mode have larger health pools, and you can only enter unlocked areas in the game.
On the other hand, since the game does not provide a split-screen option, you and your friends need to be as close to each other as possible when playing couch co-op mode. Despite this limitation, this mode is still exciting, and you can even revive your partners when they die.
How Does POE 2 Perform On Other Devices?
While PC performs well, you may occasionally choose to play POE 2 on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series for other needs. Thankfully, the gaming experience on other devices is also very good. This may be because more and more players now have the need for a refined controller experience and console support.
Related: Path Of Exile 2 Boss Farming: How Do You Choose?
If you use a controller to control your Path of Exile 2 character, you will feel that the control feels intuitive and responsive - which is important for any ARPG. Although you may encounter some minor issues, such as certain skills not being able to lock on to enemies smoothly as you expect, or occasionally being uncontrollable when aiming, the probability of these situations occurring is low enough that it will not affect the overall experience too much. For the most part, playing POE 2 with a controller just feels smooth.
If you want to make further adjustments to your Dual-Sense or Xbox controller to make them more suitable for your POE 2 operating habits, it is completely possible, such as adjusting the controller dead zone and disabling item capture. And these options are always available.
In short, whether you only plan to use PC or want to try it on all devices, you should be able to have a pleasant journey in Path of Exile 2 early access. I wish you happy playing!
