Summary
Path of Exileis experiencing a significant surge in player numbers on Steam, thanks to its latest update, Settlers of Kalguur. This latest expansion brings one of the most significant overhauls in the history of Grinding Gear Games' decade-old free-to-play action RPGPath of Exile, renowned for its substantial seasonal updates.
Launched on July 26,Path of Exile’s 3.25 update brought extensive contentand changes with the Settlers of Kalguur challenge league. This update introduces a new city-building mechanic where players gather resources and manage workers to develop the city of Kingsmarch. The melee combat system received significant overhauls, with major damage increases to nearly every melee skill and enhancements to defensive options like block passives and Life Leech. The Raider class was replaced by the Warden, focusing on elemental attacks, while the Gladiator class was reworked to emphasize dual-wielding weapon combinations. Quality-of-life improvements include automatic unlocking of waypoints, easier item pickup, and auto-refreshing of reservation effects upon death.
Before the release of this update,Path of Exile’s highest concurrent player count on Steam was 211,637 users, achieved during the Crucible league in April 2023. However, withthe release of Settlers of Kalguur, this number saw a substantial increase, reaching a new peak of 229,337 players, according toSteamDB. This remarkable surge highlights the growing enthusiasm among the player base for the new content and mechanics introduced in the 3.25 update. It’s important to recognize that these figures only reflect the Steam player base and do not encompass the entirePath of Exilecommunity. A significant number of long-time players prefer to use Grinding Gear Games' standalone launcher, meaning the actual number of active players is likely to be even higher.
Path of Exile’s Highest Concurrent Player Count on Steam
This update seems to be a welcome development for fans eagerly awaitingPath of Exile 2, which was first unveiled at ExileCon 2019. Originally scheduled to commence on June 03, 2025, thePath of Exile 2betahas been delayedand is now expected to launch later in the year. The increased player engagement suggests that the community’s anticipation for new content remains high, and the upcoming beta is likely to draw even more attention and participation.
However,Path of Exile 2may facetough competition fromDiablo 4, whoseVessel of Hatredexpansion is slated for release in October 2024. AsDiablo4 currently leads the top-down ARPG genre, it will be interesting to see howPath of Exile 2performs against this strong rival.
Path of Exile
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Path of Exile is an online Action RPG designed around a strong online item economy and deep character customisation. It is set in the dark fantasy world of Wraeclast. Scarred by mysterious catastrophes of the past and inhabited by creatures of nightmare, the very environment challenges exiles who dare explore it. You play as the Duelist, Witch, Ranger, Templar, Marauder, Shadow or the Scion class. From forsaken shores through to the city of Oriath, explore Wraeclast and uncover the ancient secrets waiting for you.You are an Exile, struggling to survive on the dark continent of Wraeclast, as you fight to earn power that will allow you to exact your revenge against those who wronged you. Created by hardcore gamers, Path of Exile is an online Action RPG set in a dark fantasy world. With a focus on visceral action combat, powerful items and deep character customization, Path of Exile is completely free and will never be pay-to-win.
