Path of Exile servers crash amid chaotic launch

On December 6, 2024, the launch of Path of Exile 2 faced significant technical difficulties that impacted players attempting to log in. The issues were anticipated by the developers, who had warned the gaming community ahead of time about the possibility of server and queue problems upon launch. At 1 PM, just before the game officially launched, developers announced that they were conducting last-minute database upgrades to manage the high volume of players eager to enter the game, which caused a delay in the server going live. Shortly after the launch at 2:20 PM, the developers provided an update stating that they were still deploying necessary database improvements. This indicated that they were aware of the ongoing issues even as players were waiting to access the game. By 2:30 PM, there was progress as the team confirmed that the new database configuration had been deployed, and they were working to restore full access. However, the challenges continued, as another update came at 3 PM stating that a last-minute crash had been identified and fixed, which was expected to affect many players. Despite these setbacks, the team remained committed to keeping players informed every step of the way. The developers revealed that the root cause of the login problems was attributed to technical complications arising from the addition of new database shards just before launch. This last-minute adjustment aimed to accommodate the staggering number of players, but it inadvertently caused multiple characters to share the same identifier, leading to further login issues. As players attempted to join, many were still experiencing disconnections and complications related to party formations. By 5 PM, some players were able to access the game, but many continued to face intermittent issues. The increased pressure on the game servers was evident, with Steam reporting a record of 306,000 concurrent players simultaneously, leaving many players frustrated. The sheer interest in Path of Exile 2 reflected its storied history and long development process, raising questions about how to manage such a substantial influx of players effectively. Moving forward, the developers will need to address these issues to ensure a smoother gaming experience, especially for new and returning players alike. The unexpected technical challenges highlight the complexities associated with launching games with substantial player bases and the importance of robust infrastructure and testing protocols in the development phase.