PoE won’t let you skip the 20-hour campaign

For years, players have navigated the labyrinth of Path of Exile, chasing massive power and satisfying endgame encounters. But even among those who love the action, a single feature consistently brings grumbling: the campaign. This week, developers at Grinding Gear Games are finally ready to question one of the game’s most iconic—and frustrating—mechanics, looking to make the path to the action RPG considerably more approachable for newcomers.

The core issue lies in the sheer length of the initial journey. Every new league or season demands that players clear ten acts before they can even step into the endgame. For many, this translates into a 20-hour tutorial—a significant time investment that feels more like homework than an adventure.

While veteran players often manage to breeze through this segment in just a few hours, the average player finds themselves facing a marathon before they can reach the core of the game’s satisfying content. This disparity has led to persistent calls for developers to shorten the campaign or offer a way to skip the introductory material.

The question naturally arises: why hasn’t this been addressed? When players ask for shortcuts, the response from the development team has been firm. Game designer Christopher “Octavian” Laferriere and game director Mark Roberts have indicated that skipping the campaign is not on the immediate horizon.

“I’d want to give a lot of consideration to something like that,” Laferriere admitted, suggesting that while the idea is noted, it currently feels fundamentally wrong in their view.

Roberts elaborated on the philosophy behind maintaining the campaign’s structure. He explained that skipping the storyline diminishes the sense of character progression and satisfaction. “Skipping the campaign makes you have a lot less care for your character,” Roberts stated. He believes the effort invested during the campaign is what genuinely enhances the experience.

Instead of altering the foundational timeline, the focus remains on refreshing the content to keep it fresh. Roberts stressed that if the campaign is abandoned, the quality of the game could quickly suffer. Instead, he advocates for newer leagues and seasons to inject new energy, ensuring the game stays relevant rather than changing its structure.

The team has also made other adjustments in the past, such as removing multi-colored sockets on gear that limited early-game skill options, an update that garnered developer consensus about making gameplay clearer.

Looking ahead to Path of Exile 2, speculation is rife. While some fans hope for a streamlined experience, developers appear committed to the established structure. This perspective, however, has earned respect. For many, pacing and progression are key components of an RPG adventure, and preserving the journey, even the long one, ensures that the payoff of reaching the endgame feels earned.