Grinding Gear Games, like all companies right now, is having difficulties, in its case getting production of Path of Exile's 3.11 expansion to meet its target release date.
The expansion was slated to be released in June, but complications from coronavirus have made development slow, leading to games like Risk of Rain 2 being delayed. The thirteen-week schedule normally followed for Path of Exile releases is simply not viable when developers are separated from their equipment and each other. "Due to this," says Bex of Grinding Gear Games, "we have already internally delayed the expansion's launch by one week from its originally-expected launch date."
Developers have set a tentative launch date of June 19 for PC and June 24 for the console, but that could change at any time. This deliberation is good for players because that means they can expect a higher-quality gaming experience when the expansion is released. As Bex says "It is very important to us that we release a high-quality expansion in June."
Developers as big as Ubisoft have to adjust work styles to fit the new "stay home and wash your hands" routine. Things like voice acting, which Path of Exile is well known for, are traditionally done in carefully built studios with high-end recording equipment. Developers may be able to bring some equipment home, or they might have to spend time soundproofing a spare room, but they can't bring everything. Whatever solutions the studio comes up with, undoubtedly it will keep everything — such as challenging bosses — as high-quality or better than what players have come to expect.
So far, fans have been patient, and the recent Delirium expansion has added a new game mode which should tide them over for now. Hopefully further complications to development will be minimal, and the expansion will drop at the end of June.
Path of Exile is available now for PC and Xbox One.