Even if you've never actually played Path of Exile, you've probably heard of its massive passive skill tree. But you've probably also heard the sentiment over and over again from people who've played the game: it's one of the rare free-to-play games that doesn't prey on its users.
Path of Exile is often cited as an example of how free-to-play games can be done fairly; offering gameplay options and cosmetics for real money without taking away from the core experience or including it in any (major) way.
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However, knowing all this doesn't stop people from being surprised at the price of the Path of Exile 2 Supporter Pack. Prices are reasonable, starting at $30 but going all the way up to an eye-watering $480! Yes, some versions do include physical items as well, but even if you remove that, the rest is still priced well above what more standard free-to-play games typically ask players to do.
Of course, the value of these bundles is entirely determined by Grinding Gear Games, and if the developers didn't know these bundles would be sold, they wouldn't price them this way. In fact, developers have spent Year It perfected its monetization strategy with the original Path of Exile, and some of the game's bundles were equally expensive, so it definitely has an audience.
However, one thing most people may not realize is that GGG also rewards existing players for their investment. Anyone who spends $480 or more on Path of Exile microtransactions will receive an early access key to the sequel. Yes, that's not a small number, but consider that this game has been released for ten years – a full decade! – Many long-term players may have invested close to this figure. In many cases, without even realizing it. If you do the math, that's about $48 a year, or a measly $4 a month — not that much cash in the grand scheme of things.
It might not be the most eye-catching offer at first glance, but it's still a bonus that recognizes the money a portion of the player base has already invested in the game. The original Path of Exile isn't going away, so these players can continue to enjoy the purchases they've accumulated over the years, but they also have a reason to jump into a new game without an upfront investment. This not only brings rewards for sticky players, but also opens up a new way for GGG to retain players. Everyone wins?
Ultimately, this is a good business decision for GGG, and it also helps maintain the studio's reputation for running a fair free-to-play model. Looking at the decisions studios have made over the years around Path of Exile monetization, you come across a lot of situations where your first reaction is “they don't have to do that,” and I think that's exactly what GGG wanted.
Let this be a lesson to many developers who seem to pursue profits first, not their players.
