Summary
-
Path of Exile 2 is still in early access, with only 6 of the 12 classes missing weapon types.
-
The trading system in Path of Exile 2 is problematic as transactions rely on an external website.
-
Potential changes to trading in Path of Exile 2 could include an auction house or marking inactive sellers.
Since Path of exile 2 launched in early access in December 2024, it is very likely that it will undergo various changes before it is fully released. First, it only has six classes out of the 12 that should be included in the full release, and with two Ascendancy classes each, it's still 18 classes short. The same goes for weapon types, as there are only six in the game at the moment, and each new type is expected to come with a corresponding Path of exile 2 classes. Changes are already happening in the game's current offerings, but one of its systems may need a complete overhaul.
GGG seems open to making changes based on fan feedback, which bodes well Path of exile 2the future. However, there is a fairly common form of criticism of a game in Early Access, and that is its trading system. Path of exile 2The trade isn't too different from its predecessor, and it's not necessarily for the better. In fact, many players wanted a different approach to trading Path of exileand the sequel doesn't change that, but it should.

Relatives
Path of Exile 2 may be shooting itself in the foot with its endgame approach
Path of Exile 2 is often described as a methodical game where strategy and positioning matter, but the current endgame could change that.
Why Path of Exile 2's trading system is problematic
Trade in Path of exile 2 mostly depends on the game's website, which players have to visit and select the type of items or currency they want to buy, set filters for different stats and requirements if needed, and then contact the seller with the click of a button. It may be a good system in theory, but in practice it can hurt in a number of ways. This is because anyone can list items for sale in the game, and since prices are community driven, there can be many price fixers who are not actually selling what they have listed.
Trading can be even more frustrating for console players as accessing the website may not be as fast.
Sometimes players can naturally be AFK or busy with something important that means they can't trade when contacted. Other times, players may change their displayed prices after posting because they changed their minds, realized their item was worth more than they thought, or for other reasons. Likewise, one can even decide not to trade at all, even though the items are listed. This means that players may not be able to complete many trades, making it difficult to upgrade gear or build Path of exile 2.
How Path of Exile 2's trading system could change
Grinding Gear Games has various ways to solve this problem, but they require the game to drastically change the way trading works. One solution could be to create an auction house that would allow players to still list in-game items at will, but automatically close the deal when someone buys them. There can be pros and cons to this system, and it depends on how it is implemented. For example, if listings can't be changed after they've been added, it can be frustrating for sellers. However, adding an entire auction house system would be a big change Path of exile 2and it may be a long time before it is implemented.
A more direct option would be to allow players to flag sellers who are inactive for whatever reason. For example, adding a tool to the website that allows players who try to PM someone for a trade to leave feedback such as “Trade completed successfully” or “Seller not responding”. This would help combat price fixers as they would have to constantly upload the fake listing once it is listed. It may not be a long-term solution or a foolproof solution, but it may help players avoid some issues with Path of exile 2the current trading system.
It remains to be seen if GGG decides to do something about the trade and what that might look like. Perhaps the company is already working on something, given what it's trading Path of exile similar and equally problematic, but there is no official information about it yet.