Path of Exile: How do these guys make money?


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I know quite a few of you have been in the Path of Exile closed beta for a couple years. However, since it "Launched" with version 1.0, I find myself wondering just how the developer/publisher makes money.

 

1.0 came with new content, a Steam launch and various other things - in fact, about the only thing it DIDN'T launch with is increased incentive to pay for items. With all the development & running costs, how do they make money? Are a few people here and there willing to pay for cosmetic items or storage tabs really enough to even break even?

 

There's literally NO nagging for cash shop purchases (which is rampant in most F2P games such as SWTOR, GW2, LOTRO, Dragon Nest, Vindictus, Aion, Rift, TERA, etc). The only thing you can buy that gives you an 'advantage' is stash tabs which expand on the 4 pages (a decent amount) you already get. Everything else is cosmetic.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love this approach to MMOs.. but again - how do they make money?

 

Here's what I suspect: Path of Exile may be a huge money laundering scheme.

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If you read through their forums during the development cycle, you'd see that there were a lot of people with "beta supporter" tags, meaning they purchased various packs. I saw quite a few with high level ($200+) tags. Given the foum community is quite small compared to overall base, they probably made quite a bit through those sales.

 

Here's an article from 2012, where they managed to raise over $200K USD just over an easter period http://www.ausgamers.com/news/read/3197812/new-zealand-path-of-exile-developers-raise-200-000-over-easter

 

That shows how supportive the PoE community is. The devs deserve it, it really is an amazing game, puts Diablo 3 to utter shame IMHO.

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I know quite a few of you have been in the Path of Exile closed beta for a couple years. However, since it "Launched" with version 1.0, I find myself wondering just how the developer/publisher makes money.

 

1.0 came with new content, a Steam launch and various other things - in fact, about the only thing it DIDN'T launch with is increased incentive to pay for items. With all the development & running costs, how do they make money? Are a few people here and there willing to pay for cosmetic items or storage tabs really enough to even break even?

 

There's literally NO nagging for cash shop purchases (which is rampant in most F2P games such as SWTOR, GW2, LOTRO, Dragon Nest, Vindictus, Aion, Rift, TERA, etc). The only thing you can buy that gives you an 'advantage' is stash tabs which expand on the 4 pages (a decent amount) you already get. Everything else is cosmetic.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love this approach to MMOs.. but again - how do they make money?

 

Here's what I suspect: Path of Exile may be a huge money laundering scheme.

 

League of Legends is a perfect example. Theres absolutely no advantage, nagging or anything, when it comes to buying, and yet they rake in millions. Why? It's a good game and they create stuff that people want to buy (cosmetic stuff, primarily).

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Kind of odd, but I'm somewhat offended at the notion that PoE is illegitimate.

 

Same way as most games like this: They don't.

Oh, but they do...

 

PoE made 2.2 million through community support for closed (not open) beta.

http://www.pathofexile.com/public/email/open-beta/browser-version.html

They have made much more than that during the 10 months that was open beta...

 

They sold beta supporter packs; listed in several different tiers, up to $12,500 (which multiple people purchased...)

They sold a $1000 pack which included collaborating with the dev team to bring a new unique item into the game. Many, many people have done this.

(Found under "custom uniques" http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Unique_Items )

Now that the beta has ended, packs currently run from $5 to $250 plus the option to build your own unique is still available. (Their goal is to have at least 1 unique per item base.)

https://www.pathofexile.com/shop/category/custom-content#

 

I myself have purchased the Divine supporter pack for $120. This provided me with the many extra stash tabs, many cosmetic effects, and physical merchandise including a shirt.

I have many friends who have purchased the same tier, if not higher. (We want the shirt.)

 

Honestly, the game is as successful as it is because D3 is a disastrous joke and thus the D2 community has been so grateful to receive PoE.

 

PoE is led by an amazingly talented and dedicated dev team. They have exquisitely crafted their gift to the world and their free-to-play model is second to none.

Grinding Gear Games has held on to their independence, and through their partnership with Steam, have also managed to successfully be their own publisher.

GGG is not EA, they are not Activision. They are humble and modest and understand what it means to love gaming.

 

IMO, PoE is easily the best title in 2013. Hands down.

To me, It may very well remain the best title through 2014, depending on how Destiny turns out.

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