Path of Exile devs want it to be easier for new players, but still won’t let you skip its 20-hour campaign every league—at least not yet: ‘It feels very wrong to me’
Path of Exile is making changes to become more accessible to new players, though Grinding Gear Games is drawing the line at one major quality-of-life feature. The developer plans to remove a system that has defined the action RPG for over a decade, signaling a willingness to reconsider core design philosophies. However, one aspect of the game’s onboarding remains firmly off the table: skipping the campaign.
The primary obstacle for new and returning players is Path of Exile’s extensive campaign, which players must complete every league (season). Consisting of 10 acts, the campaign functions as an extended 20-hour tutorial before players can access the endgame content—the primary draw for most players. This mandatory progression has long been a point of friction for veterans returning each season and newcomers trying to jump in.
Game director Mark Roberts has made clear that campaign skipping is not under consideration, at least for now. Roberts stated that allowing players to bypass the campaign would be “very, very bad way to go,” suggesting the developers believe the campaign serves an essential purpose beyond just onboarding. While the studio is open to questioning other long-standing design decisions, the mandatory campaign progression remains a core pillar they’re unwilling to compromise on in the near term.