Path of Exile 2 Developers Discuss Item Design And Mechanics In Presentation From ExileCon

In a developer presentation from ExileCon, Grinding Gear Games Senior 3D Artist Dane Brennand and Game Designer Hrishikesh Sidhartha discussed the design of items and mechanics in Path of Exile 2. 

They mentioned that item art in the game is divided into two categories: 3D art, which is what players see on their characters, and item art. Despite the game's long lifespan and continuous addition of items, each item, no matter how small, receives careful attention and unique art treatment.

The duo emphasized that even items with the same attributes have distinct visual representations, making them instantly recognizable. They talked about their personal involvement in creating unique items, highlighting the opportunity to make fundamental changes in Path of Exile 2 that were challenging to implement in the existing game due to concerns about transitioning existing items to a new system.

Brennand and Sidhartha also mentioned the importance of item drops on the ground and their potential impact on gameplay. They acknowledged that currently, players often ignore picking up rare items because they are unlikely to be useful. There are therefore plans to address this issue in Path of Exile 2, partly by reworking item drops. Additionally, Brennand and Sidhartha explain how the chaos orb, a currency item, functions and its impact on item rerolling. 

The presentation concluded by mentioning changes to alteration orbs and unique items' design philosophy, aiming to ensure that unique items cater to specific playstyles rather than being universally best-in-slot items.