Path Of Exile 2 Launch Chaos: Servers Struggle Under High Demand

The launch of Path of Exile 2 has been marred by significant login and server issues, much to the dismay of eager players. Developers were upfront about potential problems due to the massive influx of users anticipated on launch day. Unfortunately, those warnings proved prescient as gamers encountered ongoing difficulties accessing the game.

Timeline of Updates

Originally scheduled to go live at 2 PM ET, the servers remained offline as the development team worked diligently to resolve issues. Here’s a timeline of their updates:

- **1 PM ET (Pre-launch)**: Developers announced the need for last-minute database upgrades to accommodate the overwhelming number of players, hinting at a potential delay.

- **2:20 PM ET (Post-launch)**: Following the delayed launch, the team confirmed they were still deploying upgrades to the database and promised to keep players informed.

- **2:30 PM ET**: A more optimistic announcement indicated that new database configurations had been deployed, with access expected to resume within the next half hour.

- **3 PM ET**: Another setback was reported, revealing a critical crash that affected many users. The developers assured that they were addressing this issue.

- **3:50 PM ET**: Developers identified a major problem related to adding database shards, which caused multiple characters to duplicate IDs. Thankfully, this was being resolved.

- **5 PM ET**: By this time, some players had managed to log in, though connection drops and party issues continued to plague the experience.

Record Breaking Interest

As anticipation mounted, the game garnered astounding interest, exemplified by over a million concurrent viewers on Twitch while players were stuck at the login screen. Additionally, Steam saw around 306,000 concurrent players trying to access the game, leading to a temporary crash of SteamDB due to overwhelming traffic.

Looking Ahead

The record-breaking interest in Path of Exile 2 can be attributed to its storied legacy and the long wait many fans endured for this sequel. While other recent titles like Marvel Rivals enjoyed smooth launches, the resilience and patience of the player community will dictate the game's early success.

As players finally begin to log in, excitement grows to see the blend of returning veterans and new players—many of whom may be transitioning from other popular titles like Diablo. As the servers stabilize, the developers pledge to keep the community updated on progress.

Conclusion

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!