Path of Exile 2 has already paid off in Early Access and cost much less than industry blockbusters

Path of Exile 2 has not even reached its official release and is already a financial success for Grinding Gear Games. According to director Jonathan Rogers, the game paid for itself early in the Early Access phase, showing that the studio's bet on a leaner and more focused model paid off.

What is even more impressive is the development cost: well below the dreaded nine digits. While many games easily exceed the $100 million mark, Path of Exile 2 was made with a much lower budget - and still managed to exceed commercial expectations early in its journey.

How did Grinding Gear Games manage to keep the budget low?

The secret to cheaper development is not magic, but rather efficiency and strategic planning. One of the main factors for the reduced cost was the location of Grinding Gear Games in New Zealand, where operational costs and salaries are significantly lower than in major industry hubs like California.

"If we had done this in the US, it would have cost much more," commented Jonathan Rogers, highlighting that the company avoids bureaucracy and inflated structures. "We just try to play, literally," he said, reinforcing the philosophy of a studio focused on the essentials: delivering a quality game without spending unnecessary fortunes.

This approach directly contrasts with the current trend in the industry, where large studios burn billions on blockbusters and big conglomerates cut teams shortly after a game is released.

A solid game, without exaggerations and focused on the player experience

The philosophy of Grinding Gear Games not only reduced costs, but also allowed Path of Exile 2 to be a project truly focused on players. Instead of inflating the budget with gigantic marketing strategies or extravagant innovations that do not always work, the studio kept the essence of the franchise and delivered a game that is already being well received by the community.

The Early Access of Path of Exile 2 is already available for PC via Steam, with packages starting at R$ 79.80. If the initial success is an indication of what is to come, the sequel may not only surpass its predecessor, but also establish itself as an example of how to make a great game without blowing the budget.