Producer and Lead Developer Chris Wilson took the time to answer us a few questions regarding Path of Exile. You can read the full English version of the interview here:

Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions gathered within our German community on Exiled.eu and congratulations to the huge success of the Open Beta!

Chris: You’re welcome! It’s great to have an opportunity to answer some questions, and you’ve picked good ones to answer!

With more than 2 million registered players the amount of feedback surely has grown a lot since the start of Open Beta. How are you dealing with this and ensuring that nothing important is overlooked?

Chris: Yes, it definitely has. We have fulltime staff reading the forums and passing feedback up to the design team. We frequently join game to talk to the players and we try to answer every email and PM (where we receive a lot of feedback). In addition we use the Development Manifesto forum to solicit feedback on specific topics.

One big feature of PoE is the Passive Skill Tree, which is already really huge. Do you have plans to expand it even more, and if so, how? Are you considering adding new keystones?

Chris: We’re definitely continuing to iterate on it with each balance patch. We’re not planning to expand it substantially in the near future, but will look at that long-term. We will certainly be adding many new keystones over time.

At the moment, groups are limited to a total of 6 players. Do you have plans to change that, so that one day we may have the opportunity to run with 8 players or even more?

Chris: We’re really happy with six players for most of the core game content because it was designed around being fun for that number. We’re working on some game modes that allow even more players (cut-throat for example currently allows up to 12 in an area).

Tip: Check out our databases for gems, passive skills, currencies, quests and more.

Players who like to play a ranged character can use a bow, but a bit of variety would never harm. Do you have plans to add other ranged weapons like a crossbow?

Chris: Eventually, yes. They’re a good thing to put in (free) expansion packs, but we’re not working on them just yet because they’ll need a lot of animations and special new skills made if we want them to be awesome.

Will we see new affixes and prefixes on bosses and other foes in the future?

Chris: Yes, in fact we have some coming very soon! It’s an area that is a lot of fun to add more affixes to because it improves the combat experience.

It is known that you are working on content to complete Act 3. When a player has already finished Merciless before the new content arrives, does he have to master all of the difficulties in Act 3 after the implementation again?

Chris: We’re still working on the logistics of this, but we expect that players won’t need to replay the ends of the prior difficulties to progress, but could do if they want their quest rewards.

At first, many players weren’t really happy with the new reduced aura effects. Are you planning to reduce even more effects and may it be possible to get an option, that allows you to choose between the old and the new effects?

Chris: Adding too many visual options is really hard to maintain – we try to have a unified way the game is played that performs well and looks good. There will probably be future improvements to the way the auras looked.

After the duelist, do you have plans to redesign another class?

Chris: We’re pretty happy with class balance right now, but I suspect that we’ll revamp each class at least once over the coming years.

In the Shop you are offering a lot of microtransactions, but the „Custom content“ category seems a bit empty. Any chance that we see more offers there in the future? Maybe a pack that allows you to create your own rare mob with special mods?

Chris: Yes, we have plans to not only add other types of custom content, but also to make the existing custom content even more attractive in the near future.

In August the gamescom 2013 takes place in Cologne. Important last question for all German players: Will you be there, too? 🙂

Chris: I’m going to try really hard to be there, but no promises yet. Sounds like a great event!