Is Path of Exile 2 the Same Game as Path of Exile 1?

No, Path of Exile 2 is not the same game as the original Path of Exile 1. PoE 2 is an upcoming expansion that introduces a new parallel seven-act storyline campaign alongside the existing ten-act PoE 1 campaign. Both the PoE 1 and 2 campaigns lead into the same endgame mapping Atlas content.

So PoE 2 adds a new storyline campaign as well as engine upgrades, new skills and items, ascendancy classes, and more. But it allows players to continue their adventures in Wraeclast within the same core game and endgame systems.

Path of Exile 2 Provides Major Upgrades Over PoE 1

According to Grinding Gear Games‘ announcements, PoE 2 will introduce a next-generation engine with improvements to graphics, audio, and performance. Here‘s an overview of some major upgrades over the original PoE 1:

In particular, the new renderer and physically-based rendering pipeline will enable some stunning visuals we‘ve never seen before in the dark, gritty world of Wraeclast.

Below we can see a side-by-side comparison of PoE 1 graphics versus the new PoE 2 engine powering more realistic textures, lighting, water physics and more. It‘s a major visual upgrade while retaining the original sinister atmosphere:

So in summary, PoE 2 takes the award-winning formula of PoE 1 to the next level with an upgraded engine and combat systems combined with new story acts, items, skills and ascendancies. Now let‘s dive deeper into some key questions around PoE 2‘s launch and integration with PoE 1.

Will I Need to Start a New Character for PoE 2?

No! Grinding Gear emphasized all your existing characters and items will carry forward into PoE 2. This means you can keep progressing and leveling up your current PoE 1 characters when you enter the new campaign and endgame changes coming in PoE 2.

All your microtransactions will also carry over, so no purchases are wasted as PoE evolves over time. This continuous character progression allows veteran players deeply invested in existing builds to keep expanding their characters‘ power in the new content rather than resetting progress. Very player-friendly!

Is PoE Ditching PoE 1 Completely After PoE 2?

Absolutely not! Grinding Gear Games stated that both the PoE 1 and 2 campaigns will co-exist as parallel choices for starting a new character in Wraeclast. Players can opt to create new characters that play through either the original PoE 1 ten-act campaign or the new seven-act PoE 2 campaign.

So PoE 1 is still very much alive and kicking even after PoE 2 lands. You retain the choice between nostalgic throwback or next-gen experience. All other endgame systems remain connected and shared between both sets of campaign acts. This structure essentially "future-proofs" PoE, evolving the game dramatically while keeping old content intact rather than removing it entirely.

Why an Expansion Over a True PoE Sequel?

In interviews, Grinding Gear explained why they deliberately designed PoE 2 as a "sequel-sized expansion" rather than releasing a fully separate PoE 2 game requiring everyone to start completely fresh.

Some key reasons driving this decision:

• Preserve players‘ existing progression and purchases rather than negating all their effort
• Prevent fragmenting the player base – retain one unified community moving forward together
• Support continuous growth allowing old campaigns to co-exist with new ones
• Deliver next-gen upgrades incrementally using "Expansion 2.0" model going forward

So while PoE 2 delivers sequel-worthy engine upgrades and new content, it intentionally retains full backwards compatibility with the live PoE 1 to uphold players‘ existing investment. Think of it like upgrading software to a dramatic new version while retaining compatibility with your old data files.

Overall this evolution sets the stage for Grinding Gear to keep leveling up PoE‘s graphics and mechanics over time without resetting player progress every time. Quite clever!

Now let‘s explore what awaits us gameplay-wise in the new PoE 2 campaign…

What Gameplay Changes Can We Expect in PoE 2‘s Campaign?

In the PoE 2 arcs, we will explore the lands of Cantha as exiles drawn into a raging conflict between the Oshabi goddess and new characters like Kosis and Venarius. Our exile must cut their own path through Wraeclast‘s eastern realms scarred by historical battles now bursting back to life.

According to Grinding Gear‘s PoE 2 announcements, major changes coming with the new campaign include:

• Revamped skill system adding new archetypes of skill gems like "marker" skills

• New character ascendancy classes expanding build variety
• Engineered locations designed for PoE 2‘s upgraded graphics
• Reward structure adjustments encouraging exploring side areas
• Emphasis on risk vs reward allowing very challenging encounters

The new hand-crafted environments as glimpsed in early footage seem to introduce more open, sprawling zones rather than linear instanced levels – creating opportunities for unpredictable expeditions into untamed lands:

Meanwhile a few signatureboss battles got showcased with epic scale befitting godlike foes:

So with the new campaign chapters specifically designed to highlight PoE 2‘s graphics and sound, we can expect combat gameplay to feel refreshed backing up the next-gen visual immersion in Wraeclast‘s eastern frontier.

The environments themselves look more varied and dynamically generated based on player choices, continuing PoE‘s signature procedurally blended open worlds. Combined with the new skill gem system and ascendancy revamp, PoE 2‘s campaign promises to offer plenty of replayability even for those who already memorized PoE 1‘s story arc over repeated playthroughs.

Let‘s wrap up with a glimpse at the future timeline for PoE 2‘s launch…

PoE 2 Launch Window: Beta in 2024, Full Release in 2024

Grinding Gear has shared a rough timeline for the launch of PoE 2 – closed beta testing is scheduled to start in early 2023. This offers select players early hands-on access to try out the new campaign chapters and test balance changes.

The PoE 2 expansion including the full new campaign, skills, ascendancies etc is planned for full launch sometime in 2024.

In the meantime, Grinding Gear will continue releasing new challenge leagues and expansions on the current PoE 1 with its next major update – Siege of the Atlas – arriving early 2023 right before the PoE 2 beta.

So we‘ve still got significant PoE 1 content updates inbound before the game evolves into PoE 2. Plenty for exile veterans to master in Wraeclast over the next year! But the ultra-juiced graphical overhaul and new combat mechanics are tantalizingly close on the horizon…

In conclusion – Path of Exile 2 takes everything players loved from the original and levels it up dramatically. We get an entirely new hand-crafted campaign unleashing next-gen visuals powered by PoE 2‘s upgraded engine, continuing character progression intact thanks to full compatibility with existing PoE 1 content, plus expected game-changing revamps to gem skills, classes, and endgame systems.

While PoE 1 continues humming strong, PoE 2 promises nothing short of a breathtaking evolution realizing this hardcore ARPG‘s true next-generation potential. And one shared world means we all journey there together rather than leaving our progress behind. The future continues to look bright for Grinding Gear‘s ambitious vision!