Path of Exile is launching its newest expansion, Echoes of the Atlas, today at 11 AM Pacific time. The free-to-play MMO has accumulated a stable, loyal player base since it launched, despite its humble origins. Last year saw Diablo series.
The success of the Heist expansion has prompted further post-launch from developer Grinding Gear Games, who's had a major expansion in the works for a while now. The new content was originally meant to release last month in December, but Grinding Gear actually delayed it to dig itself out of the hole it's landed in. Grinding Gear Games certainly dodged a bullet by getting out of the shadow of that conflict.
But now that Cyberpunk 2077 has had some time to blow over, Grinding Gear is finally ready to release Echoes of the Atlas. The new expansion is releasing today for Mac and PC; Xbox and PlayStation consoles will receive it on the 20th. The developer has promised a considerable amount of end-game content in the new expansion, including 11 new maps, each with bosses to take down. Players can also invest in brand new ive skill trees and build their strength in order to challenge the Maven, an intimidating new Pinnacle boss who won't confront players until they've gone toe to toe with multiple bosses at the same time. In addition to the new content, Grinding Gear is also introducing a new Ritual Challenge League and rebalancing nineteen Ascendancy classes. Players can look forward to the return of Heist and Harvest leagues as well.
Fans of action RPGs should rejoice at this content drop, which revitalizes Path of Exile in a big way. It's a good month for fans of this particular genre, too; Diablo 3 is currently holding its annual Darkening of Tristram event, a special anniversary celebration that pays homage to the series' roots. The event even features dated, pixelated graphics to more accurately simulate the very first Diablo game. Fans of the franchise who are feeling nostalgic can take part in that event, while players who are after something new can turn to Echoes of the Atlas.
It's not common to see a free game getting so much ongoing from its developers, but Grinding Gear clearly has a lot of love for Path of Exile. The amount of new content introduced in Echoes of Atlas is considerable, and should give fans a lot to enjoy as they prepare for their climactic showdown with the Maven, and for whatever else Path of Exile might throw at them farther down the line.
Source: Grinding Gear Games
