Tag Archives: free-to-play

12 year old Path of Exile is beating its sequel with six times the player count as GGG’s new title suffers massive player losses

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Path of Exile 1, the 12-year-old revolutionary free-to-play ARPG, is currently leagues above its own successor, boasting six times its concurrent player count. The sequel, now in early access, is actively losing players as development trudges slowly ahead of its full release.

According to SteamDB, the original Path of Exile maintains around 115,000 concurrent players on Steam, while the sequel hovers around 20,000 during peak hours. This resurgence for PoE 1 is largely thanks to its new expansion, *Keepers of the Flame*, which launched on October 31 and instantly attracted a massive influx of players. The expansion propelled the game from an average peak of 10,000 concurrent players to over 185,000.

*Keepers of the Flame* marks the first major expansion for PoE 1 in quite some time and serves as a significant show of appreciation for Grinding Gear Games’ (GGG) original title. Many fans feared that the classic game would be sidelined in favor of Path of Exile 2, but this expansion proved otherwise.

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Turning to PoE 2, the game has been in early access for almost a year now. Originally planned to spend six months in early access before its full free-to-play launch, the development timeline has doubled, and the game remains unfinished.

The last major update, patch 0.3, added a substantial amount of new content, causing the player count to soar to over 300,000 at its peak. However, this surge was short-lived, as players quickly dropped off once the content ran dry. Since the September patch, PoE 2 has experienced a steady decline in active players. Many have likely migrated back to the more content-rich PoE 1 and its fresh expansion.

We are now just a month away from the first anniversary of PoE 2’s early access launch, a milestone that could bring patch 0.4. However, it seems probable that the update might be delayed until 2026.

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PoE 2 is widely regarded as an amazing game, but the slow pace of development has been a major drawback for many players, myself included. I bought the game on launch day and played extensively, but the three available acts quickly ran out and left me wanting more. Though incremental updates brought new content—such as a fourth act—it simply hasn’t been enough.

I sincerely hope GGG accelerates development and ultimately makes Path of Exile 2 the giant ARPG masterpiece it is meant to be.

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In the meantime, it seems many of us have another great game to enjoy—and it’s free. Path of Exile 1 continues to thrive with its rich content and dedicated community, proving that sometimes the original remains the best choice.
https://www.destructoid.com/12-year-old-path-of-exile-is-beating-its-sequel-with-six-times-the-player-count-as-gggs-new-title-suffers-massive-player-losses/

How Gauntlet mode works – Battlefield 6: REDSEC

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**Introducing Gauntlet: A Brand-New Game Mode in Battlefield 6**

Gauntlet is an exciting, free-to-play game mode introduced in Battlefield 6 with the REDSEC update. While it shares a space alongside the battle royale gametype, Gauntlet offers a completely different experience. Teams are still eliminated as the rounds progress, and there is an overall winner, but success in Gauntlet isn’t solely dependent on getting kills.

### How Gauntlet Mode Works

Gauntlet is a tournament-style gametype featured in Battlefield 6’s new multiplayer experience, REDSEC. In this mode, eight teams of four players each compete against one another to complete specific objectives.

The competition unfolds over four rounds, with the lowest scoring teams knocked out after every round:

– **Round 1:** 8 teams
– **Round 2:** 6 teams
– **Round 3:** 4 teams
– **Round 4:** 2 teams

To advance to the next round, your team must avoid finishing among the bottom two teams once the match ends. This can be challenging, as all teams compete simultaneously on the same map, striving to complete the same objective.

### Scoring and Objectives

Your team’s progress is determined by the points you earn, which vary depending on the current objective. Before each round begins, you’ll receive a brief overview of the new objective.

Objectives can differ from round to round. For example, sometimes you might need to collect and deliver data drives to a drone, while other times your focus might be on eliminating enemy players and protecting your high-value target.

Points are awarded for a range of actions including:

– Successfully collecting data
– Eliminating enemy players
– Surviving through the round
– Holding specific zones
– Other mission-critical activities

Mastering these objectives and earning enough points is key to advancing through the rounds and ultimately securing victory in Gauntlet mode.

Experience the thrill of intense team competition and strategic play by jumping into Gauntlet in Battlefield 6 today!
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146651/battlefield-6-redsec-gauntlet-mode-explained

Battlefield 6 & its RedSec battle royale will share career & battle pass progression

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This week, Electronic Arts and Battlefield Studios revealed the full details of the battle royale segment of Battlefield 6: RedSec. This new mode launched as a separate, free-to-play module of Battlefield 6, offering players a fresh way to experience the franchise. One of the key features of RedSec is its cross-progression system, allowing for seamless progression between RedSec and the main Battlefield 6 game.

Most of the progress you make in RedSec will carry over to Battlefield 6, and vice versa. This means you won’t have to unlock the same weapons or attachments twice, making your gameplay experience more streamlined and rewarding across both modes.

Battlefield Studios provided an in-depth look at the cross-progression system in a dedicated article published alongside the RedSec mode launch. Electronic Arts and Battlefield Studios have promised that a majority of what you achieve in either Battlefield 6 or RedSec will transfer between the two applications. This includes your Career mode progress, battle pass rewards, and much more.

Here’s the official rundown of what will be shared across Battlefield 6 and RedSec:

– **Career Rank**
– **Hardware Unlocks:** Weapons, Gadgets, Throwables, Training Paths
– **Hardware Progression:** Attachments, Vehicle Loadout Items, Camos, Weapon Packages
– **Customization Items:** Soldiers, Soldier Skins, Camos, Charms, Decals, Player Profile Backgrounds, Icons, Dog Tags
– **Badges**
– **Battle Pass Progress**

This system ensures that your time and effort in either mode contribute to your overall Battlefield experience without unnecessary repetition. Whether you prefer jumping into the battle royale thrills of RedSec or the classic Battlefield 6 gameplay, your progress stays connected across both worlds.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146546/battlefield-6-redsec-battle-royale-cross-progression