Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2 launched into early access on December 6, 2024, simultaneously on PC and PlayStation 5 – unlike the first game, which only reached consoles after several years, this time Grinding Gear Games designed the gamepad controls from the very first moment of development. The result is a control scheme that doesn't feel like a bolted-on port, but a full-fledged alternative to mouse and keyboard, including clear radial menus for spells and flasks.

In terms of content it's the same game as on PC: a new story, a reworked passive skill tree, and a weapon system where bows, staves, or a pair of blades fundamentally change the combat style, along with a slower and more tactical pace of battles compared to the first game. Trading between players remains built on currency items instead of gold, and the game is funded solely by cosmetic purchases.

The PS5 version also uses the console's power to maintain stable framerates even in dense battles with dozens of enemies and effects on screen at once, which was occasionally an issue for the predecessor on older consoles during hectic moments. Progress, currency, and equipment are not shared with PC or Xbox, though – it's a separate, standalone game account, same as with the first game.

The game remains completely free even in the second installment, funded only by cosmetic purchases and storage slots, so PS5 owners could download and try it from the first day of early access without any entry fee at all, which is quite unusual for console releases of this scale.

The choice between the standard and hardcore league with permanent character death has also been retained, so PS5 players have the same range of difficulty available as their PC counterparts, just with controls designed directly for DualSense instead of keyboard and mouse.

Why play it: For PlayStation 5 owners who want a deep action RPG without waiting for a later port – controller support here is handled as an equal option, not an afterthought.