Path of Exile 2 Is Getting Steam Deck-Ready This May, And Switch 2 Hope Looks Stronger
Path of Exile 2 on handheld is about to become a much better idea.
Developer Grinding Gear Games has told Eurogamer that the action RPG should effectively be ready for Steam Deck verification by the end of May. The key update is patch 0.5.0, launching on 29 May, which will include the changes needed to make the game properly comfortable on Valve’s handheld.
Valve’s official “Verified” badge may only arrive later, because the game still needs to go through the formal submission and checking process. But according to game director and studio co-founder Jonathan Rogers, Grinding Gear Games believes the required work is already being handled for 0.5.0.
The big thing here is UI scaling. Anyone who has tried to play a dense ARPG on a small screen knows the pain: tiny text, crowded menus, unreadable tooltips, and inventory management that feels like a boss fight by itself. For Path of Exile 2, the team has been adding scaling options across different parts of the interface, setting Steam Deck-friendly defaults, and play-testing the experience so text and UI elements actually make sense on the device.
For Malaysian and SEA players, this matters because handheld gaming is no longer some niche side thing. A lot of us are gaming between work, classes, travel, lepak sessions, or just when the TV/monitor is occupied. Diablo-style ARPGs are especially nice on handheld when done properly: grind a few maps, tweak your build, farm loot, then sleep. No need to fully commit to a long desktop session.
This also makes the Switch 2 question more interesting. Rogers said Grinding Gear Games still has not done Switch 2 work yet, but Steam Deck optimisation is a very encouraging step. Path of Exile 2 is already in early access on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, so a Nintendo handheld version would not feel strange — especially when Blizzard’s Diablo series previously worked well on Switch hardware.
There is no confirmed Switch 2 version of Path of Exile 2 right now, so don’t go pre-ordering anything based on vibes. But if the game’s UI and performance are being shaped for Steam Deck, that does make the idea of a future Switch 2 version feel more realistic than before.
Patch 0.5.0, titled Return of the Ancients, is also a major content update. It is set to be the final big early access patch before Path of Exile 2’s full 1.0 release, which is still expected this year. The headline feature is a major endgame overhaul, with new questlines designed to guide players through the Atlas and track progress more clearly.
That is honestly a big deal. Path of Exile has always been brilliant but intimidating, especially once you reach the “okay, now what?” phase after the campaign. More structure in the endgame could make PoE 2 easier to stick with for players who love deep systems but don’t want to alt-tab into ten guides just to understand what they should farm next.
The update also expands the Atlas with major new areas, including an explorable sea and a massive fortress. On the class side, Monk and Huntress players are getting new ascendancy options. The standout sounds like the Huntress’ Spirit Walker ascendancy, which lets players tame beast-type bosses and bring them into fights as allies. That is properly wild.
Path of Exile 2 still has work to do before 1.0, including Acts 5 and 6, which are apparently close to completion. However, the rush toward full launch also means some previously promised classes will not arrive in time for release.
Still, between the endgame upgrade, Steam Deck improvements, and the possible path toward more handheld platforms, Path of Exile 2 is shaping up nicely for players who want deep loot grinding without being chained to a desk.
Source: Eurogamer
