The world of action RPGs have exploded over the last couple of years, with new titles making headway in the genre. Unfortunately, some of them haven’t been cursed with pay-to-win mechanics that have left a bad taste in the mouths of many players. One popular ARPG, Path of Exile, has been around for quite some time, but is gaining steam with the advent of the genre. But is Path of Exile pay to win like the others, or is it a shining example of an ARPG done right?<\/p>\n
To answer the question of whether or not Path of Exile is a pay-to-win game, we have to define what pay-to-win is. The most common definition of pay-to-win is a mechanic in a game that gives players the ability to use real-world money to purchase power, whether it be direct purchase, or more frequently, through random loot boxes. This power usually comes in the form of items, which give that player a massive time and power advantage over other players making the game imbalanced.<\/p>\n
With that definition in mind, let’s take a look at Path of Exile’s monetization model to determine if it fits. There are a few different kinds of microtransactions in Path of Exile. <\/p>\n
Nearly all of the microtransactions within Path of Exile are cosmetic in nature. These come in the form of transmog skins for your items, different hideouts and decorations, skill effects, portals, pets, and more. There are direct purchase options for these items, as well as mystery boxes that contain the current league’s offerings of cosmetic items. The Vault Pass also contains cosmetics. These provide no direct player power whatsoever.<\/p>\n