50% off is the headline, but the bigger move is that Path of Exile 2 is also free to play until June 1, giving undecided ARPG players a short window to test one of Diablo IV’s most visible rivals without paying upfront.
The promotion marks the game’s first-ever discount, cutting the price to $14.99 instead of $29.99, according to Notebookcheck, which cites SteamDB for the price-drop history. The free weekend also includes Steam Deck support, making this more than a narrow PC storefront trial.
Path of Exile 2 launches free weekend until June 1 with first 50% discount
Grinding Gear Games is using a simple but aggressive offer: try Path of Exile 2 for free through June 1, then buy it at half price if it clicks.
That matters because this is not a routine discount cycle. Notebookcheck says the game is getting its first-ever discount after “around a year and a half,” and the cut is not a small test at 20%. It is 50% immediately.
Path of Exile 2 is free to play until June 1, and the current discount cuts the price from $29.99 to $14.99.
For players who have watched the game from the outside, the timing removes the usual friction. They can test its combat rhythm, progression speed and build systems before deciding whether the cheaper price is worth taking.
That is especially relevant because Path of Exile 2 is not positioned as a softer alternative to Diablo IV. The source material frames it as less cinematic, harder, more complex and more focused on theorycrafting than Blizzard’s ARPG.
The deal also lands in a crowded period for gaming and tech discounts. MLXIO readers tracking limited-time offers may also want context from our recent Wartales Steam discount coverage and broader HP OmniBook 7 Flip deal coverage, though the Path of Exile 2 promotion stands out because it combines a free trial with the game’s first reported price cut.
Diablo IV players get a low-risk chance to test Path of Exile 2’s darker, harder RPG systems
Path of Exile 2 sends players back to Wraeclast, a grim setting built around corruption, monsters and ancient powers. The core loop is familiar: choose a class, fight through isometric zones, collect loot, improve gear and shape a character through layered progression.
The difference is density. The game leans into passive abilities, skill gems and extensive build combinations, which makes it a sharper fit for players who enjoy planning as much as fighting.
That is also where the split with Diablo IV becomes clear. Based on the supplied source, Blizzard’s game is considered more accessible, while Path of Exile 2 is described as more demanding and less streamlined.
| Category | Path of Exile 2 | Diablo IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Dark, grim, less cinematic | More cinematic |
| Difficulty | Harder and more punishing | More accessible |
| Build depth | Heavy focus on theorycrafting, passive abilities and skill gems | Criticized for less endgame depth |
| Common criticism | High difficulty, slow progression, loot that may feel unrewarding | Too much focus on live service |
The reviews reflect that tradeoff. Notebookcheck cites more than 200,000 Steam reviews for Path of Exile 2, with 73% positive.
That is not a clean landslide. The praise centers on atmosphere and depth, while criticism targets the high difficulty, slower progression and loot that does not always feel rewarding.
For Diablo IV players, the free weekend is useful because those are not small design preferences. A player who wants a more forgiving ARPG may bounce quickly. A player who wants heavier systems and harsher decision-making may find exactly the friction they were missing.
Analysis: The half-price offer works because it follows the trial, not because it replaces it. A complicated ARPG is hard to sell on screenshots alone; letting players test the systems first gives the discount more force.
June 1 deadline puts pressure on undecided ARPG fans before the discount disappears
The practical limit is the clock. The free weekend runs only until June 1, and the source warns that prices and availability can change.
Players should check the relevant storefront for exact timing, regional pricing and platform availability before assuming the $14.99 price applies in their location. The supplied source confirms the dollar price and Steam Deck inclusion, but it does not specify every regional storefront detail.
A few practical points remain unresolved from the available material:
- Download size: Not specified in the supplied source.
- Account requirements: Not specified in the supplied source.
- Progress carryover: Not specified in the supplied source.
- Exact end time on June 1: Not specified in the supplied source.
- Regional price differences: Not specified in the supplied source.
That makes the safest move straightforward: verify the store page before downloading, especially if the goal is to test enough of the early game before the free period ends.
The bigger watch item is whether the promotion changes the conversation around Path of Exile 2. The game already has scale on Steam, with more than 200,000 reviews, but its 73% positive rating shows a divided audience rather than universal approval.
If the free weekend pulls in players who avoided the game because of its reputation for difficulty, the discount could widen its audience. If newcomers hit the same complaints around progression and loot, the promotion may simply reinforce the divide between Path of Exile 2 and Diablo IV.
For now, the offer is clear: Path of Exile 2 is free to try until June 1, discounted by 50%, and aimed directly at ARPG players deciding whether they want accessibility — or complexity with teeth.
Key Takeaways
- Players can try Path of Exile 2 for free before committing to a purchase.
- The first-ever discount cuts the price in half from $29.99 to $14.99.
- The promotion gives Diablo IV players a low-risk chance to test a major ARPG rival.
