The long-awaited early access for Path of Exile 2 has encountered some hiccups, resulting in a delay. Initially slated for launch at 2 pm EST, the developer Grinding Gear Games decided to implement last-minute database upgrades due to an overwhelming number of players ready to explore the game.
This delay was announced mere hours after developers cautioned players about potential long queue times on launch day, which already hinted at server challenges. Once the necessary database configurations were applied, the team optimistically stated that access would be restored within half an hour. However, they soon discovered additional issues that further complicated matters.
A crash was identified that could have impacted many users. Thankfully, this was addressed before the final checks were completed. Just when it seemed like everything was back on track and the release was “relatively imminent,” another configuration problem emerged. The team explained that adding more database shards at the last minute led to multiple characters inadvertently sharing the same character ID, a situation no player wants to find themselves in.
As I write this, early access is delayed, and the official website has been experiencing outages as excited fans flock there for updates. This shows how passionate and expectant the community is for this title.
The team’s commitment to ensuring a smooth experience is commendable. However, these technical difficulties raise questions about whether such issues could have been anticipated or better managed before launch. Players are understandably frustrated but might appreciate developers’ transparency during such turbulent times.