Path of Exile 2 vs Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

• Perspective: Isometric (Top-Down)
• Multiplayer: 6-Player Online Co-op, 2-Player Couch Co-op
• Setting: Wraeclast (20 years after PoE1)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Early Access Release: 2024-12-06
• Unique Feature: A complete overhaul of the original's core systems, featuring a new Skill Gem system, a dedicated dodge roll, and a dual-specialization passive tree.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Late Ming Dynasty China
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass
• Release Window: 2025
• Unique Feature: A unique blend of a historical Late Ming Dynasty setting with Lovecraftian and body horror elements, centered around a feather-based curse and demonic powers.

• Unique Items: Dropped by monsters throughout the game. Each of the 700 new equipment base types has its own unique item variant, leading to thousands of powerful and build-enabling items to find.
• Gold: A new currency type that drops from monsters. Gold is used for various NPC vendor interactions and for respeccing passive skill points, providing an alternative to Orbs of Regret.

• Lost Memories: Expected to be found in specific locations or after defeating certain enemies. These will likely be fragmented memories that gradually reveal Wuchang's past and the origins of the curse.
• Ancient Texts: Scrolls and books likely hidden throughout the world that will contain lore about ancient Chinese mythology, the history of Shu, and the forgotten deities connected to the plague.

• Dark Fantasy
• Eldritch Horror
• Deep Character Customization
• Loot Hunting
• Complex Economy
• Action RPG
• Survival
• Post-Apocalyptic

• Dark Fantasy
• Chinese History (Ming Dynasty)
• Soulslike
• Lovecraftian Horror
• Body Horror
• Mythology
• Amnesia
• Plague

• New Weapon Types: Spears, Crossbows, Flails
  Path of Exile 2 introduces several new weapon archetypes alongside returning favorites, each with their own dedicated skills and passive tree nodes.
• Returning Weapon Types: Swords, Axes, Maces, Bows, Wands, etc.
  All weapon types from the original game return, but with updated animations, sounds, and interactions within the new combat system.

• Primary Weapon: Varies (Swords, Axes, etc.)
  Wuchang's main equipped weapon. Players can choose from a variety of weapon types, each with its own moveset, speed, and damage properties.
• Secondary Weapon: Varies (Swords, Axes, etc.)
  A second weapon that can be switched to instantly, even mid-combo, to create unique attack chains and adapt to different enemy types.
• Demonic Talons: Supernatural Ability
  A special attack where Wuchang manifests monstrous, bird-like talons from her arm to strike enemies, often used as a powerful combo finisher or a way to break an enemy's guard.

• Equipment Base Types: The game features 700 new equipment base types. Armor continues to provide a foundation of defenses (Armour, Evasion, Energy Shield) and serves as the housing for sockets, though the linking mechanic has been moved to the gems themselves.

• Equipment Sets: Players can equip various pieces of armor inspired by the historical period, including helmets, chest pieces, gauntlets, and leggings. Armor will provide defensive stats and may offer resistances to different types of damage or passive bonuses.

• Cosmetic Microtransactions: Path of Exile 2 shares its cosmetic microtransaction system with the first game. Any armor sets, weapon effects, pets, and other cosmetics purchased in either game will be available to use in both.

• Functional Armor Sets: Customization will be primarily functional through the equipping of different armor sets. Each set will have a unique appearance based on historical Ming Dynasty armor and the game's dark fantasy aesthetic.

Progression will be a core RPG element. Players will collect 'Red Mercury' from defeated enemies, serving as both experience and currency. This can be used to level up Wuchang's base attributes at shrines. A skill tree will allow players to unlock new combat abilities and enhance their demonic powers. Weapons can be upgraded with collected materials, and new weapon types can be acquired throughout the journey.

The game will feature interconnected, semi-open world zones rather than a single seamless map. Players will explore various locations in the historical region of Shu, including mist-shrouded valleys, opulent Ming Dynasty palaces, and eerie, feather-covered villages. The level design emphasizes verticality and discovering hidden paths and secrets.

• Warrior (Str): Playable Class
  A new melee specialist who excels with maces and clubs.
• Sorceress (Int): Playable Class
  A new spellcaster who can seamlessly blend different elements like fire, cold, and lightning.
• Monk (Str/Dex): Playable Class
  A martial artist who uses a quarterstaff and his fists to deliver swift, mobile attacks.
• Huntress (Dex): Playable Class
  A spear-wielding warrior who excels at hit-and-run tactics, throwing her spear and recalling it.
• Mercenary (Dex/Int): Playable Class
  A crossbow specialist who brings shooter-style mechanics to the game, using different types of bolts for various effects.
• Returning Archetypes: Playable Classes
  The six original classes (Marauder, Ranger, Witch, Duelist, Templar, Shadow) return with new models and animations, alongside six entirely new classes for a total of 12.

• Wuchang: Playable Protagonist
  A skilled pirate warrior of the Jiuhua clan. Afflicted with amnesia and the feather-borne Ornithropy curse, she seeks the truth of her past and a cure for the plague.
• The Shu Prince: Key NPC
  The ruler of the Shu region. His sanity and ability to rule will be tested by the spreading plague and political turmoil, making him a central figure in the story.
• The Feathered Saint: Antagonist
  A powerful and enigmatic being that appears to be a source or master of the Ornithropy plague. It is expected to be a formidable foe and a primary antagonist.

• The Main Campaign
  A brand new, six-act storyline that takes players across Wraeclast to stop a new wave of Corruption. The campaign is designed to be a more curated, single-player-like experience compared to the first game.
• The Atlas of Worlds
  The shared endgame between both Path of Exile games. After completing the campaign, players unlock the Atlas and can run thousands of procedurally generated map areas to challenge pinnacle bosses and acquire the most powerful loot.

• Main Story Quests
  A central questline will guide the player through the lands of Shu to uncover the secrets of Wuchang's past and the source of the Ornithropy plague. This will involve confronting powerful, multi-phased bosses.
• Side Quests (Local Legends)
  Optional quests are expected, likely given by the desperate inhabitants of the plague-ridden land. These would involve investigating local myths, hunting down specific monstrous threats, and making choices that can impact small communities.
• Exploration & Discovery
  Much of the game will involve exploring the interconnected levels to find hidden paths, secret items, and optional bosses that provide valuable rewards and lore.

• Q: Is Path of Exile 2 an expansion?
  A: No. Originally announced as an expansion, it is now a completely separate, standalone game with its own campaign, classes, and game mechanics. It will exist alongside the original Path of Exile.
• Q: Is Path of Exile 2 free to play?
  A: The game launched into a paid Early Access on December 6, 2024. The full 1.0 release of the game will be completely free-to-play, just like the original.
• Q: Do my purchases from Path of Exile 1 carry over?
  A: Yes. All cosmetic microtransactions and convenience items (like stash tabs) purchased in either game are shared and can be used in both Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2.
• Q: Can I play with my friends from Path of Exile 1?
  A: No. Because Path of Exile 2 is a separate game with different characters and balance, you cannot party up with players who are playing Path of Exile 1. However, PoE2 has full cross-play between its own PC and console versions.

• Q: What is Wuchang: Fallen Feathers?
  A: It is an upcoming single-player action RPG with Soulslike combat, set in a dark fantasy version of Late Ming Dynasty China. The story revolves around a warrior trying to cure a supernatural plague that makes people grow feathers.
• Q: What does 'Soulslike' mean for this game?
  A: It means the game will feature challenging, stamina-based combat where players must learn enemy patterns, master dodging and parrying, and will be punished for mistakes. Players will likely drop their experience points upon death and must retrieve them.
• Q: What engine does the game use?
  A: Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is being developed on Unreal Engine 5.
• Q: Is Wuchang: Fallen Feathers coming to Game Pass?
  A: Yes, it has been confirmed that the game will be available on day one on Xbox Game Pass when it launches in 2025.

• OFFICIAL EARLY ACCESS PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS from the game's Steam page. These specifications may change as development continues towards the full 1.0 release.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will vary based on the specific model's cooling and power delivery (TGP). Path of Exile 2's new engine and complex combat encounters can be demanding.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P Impact: Total Graphics Power (TGP) is critical for laptop GPU performance. A higher TGP allows the GPU to perform closer to its desktop equivalent.
• Laptop Consideration: Advanced Cooling Thermals: The game's intense combat can be graphically demanding. A robust cooling system is essential to prevent thermal throttling and maintain consistent performance.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Performance Sustain: A strong mobile CPU with high single-core performance is important, as the game's core logic can be CPU-bound, especially with complex builds and numerous calculations.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Configuration Speed: 16GB in a dual-channel configuration is the recommended minimum. The game can utilize more, and faster RAM can improve performance.
• Laptop Consideration: Display Panel G P U Pairing: Match the GPU's capability to the laptop's display. The game's fast-paced combat benefits from a responsive, high-refresh-rate panel.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch N V I D I A Advanced Optimus: A MUX switch or Advanced Optimus is beneficial for reducing latency, which is crucial for the timing of the new dodge roll mechanic.
• Laptop Consideration: Driver Updates O S Optimization: Keeping GPU drivers updated is crucial for performance and stability, especially for new content patches.
• Game Name: Path of Exile 2

• OFFICIAL AND EXTRAPOLATED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. This information is based on the official PC specifications from developer Leenzee Games, adapted to the requested JSON structure. As a visually ambitious title built on Unreal Engine 5, the game is demanding. Crucially, the official minimum and recommended specs were tested with upscaling (DLSS/FSR) enabled, indicating that using this technology is intended for achieving target framerates.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop versions of the listed desktop GPUs require comparable performance, which is highly dependent on the laptop's TGP (Total Graphics Power) and thermal design. For a demanding Unreal Engine 5 Soulslike like Wuchang, a laptop with a high-TGP GPU and a robust cooling system is critical for a stable and responsive experience.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: A high TGP is essential. A low-power variant of a recommended GPU may perform significantly worse and struggle to maintain stable framerates, especially in visually complex areas.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Unreal Engine 5 can heavily stress both the CPU and GPU. An advanced cooling solution will be necessary to prevent thermal throttling during intense boss fights and exploration.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: While the game appears GPU-bound, a capable laptop CPU with good power delivery is needed to handle the complex physics and AI without causing stutters.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended to minimize latency and ensure the GPU's full performance is utilized, which is vital for the game's fast-paced, precision-based combat.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: The game is built on Unreal Engine 5 and officially supports NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR. The developers have explicitly stated that the official system requirements were determined with these features enabled. This means using an upscaler is the intended way to achieve target framerates.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: As a UE5 title using Lumen for global illumination, settings related to GI, Shadows, and Effects Quality will have the most significant performance impact. The game has been noted by players to be very demanding, making tweaking these settings crucial.
• Game Name: Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

• Upscaling Tech: The game is built on Unreal Engine 5 and officially supports NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR. The developers have explicitly stated that the official system requirements were determined with these features enabled. This means using an upscaler is the intended way to achieve target framerates.
• Key Settings Impact: As a UE5 title using Lumen for global illumination, settings related to GI, Shadows, and Effects Quality will have the most significant performance impact. The game has been noted by players to be very demanding, making tweaking these settings crucial.

• G P U T G P Impact: Total Graphics Power (TGP) is critical for laptop GPU performance. A higher TGP allows the GPU to perform closer to its desktop equivalent.
• Advanced Cooling Thermals: The game's intense combat can be graphically demanding. A robust cooling system is essential to prevent thermal throttling and maintain consistent performance.
• C P U Performance Sustain: A strong mobile CPU with high single-core performance is important, as the game's core logic can be CPU-bound, especially with complex builds and numerous calculations.
• R A M Configuration Speed: 16GB in a dual-channel configuration is the recommended minimum. The game can utilize more, and faster RAM can improve performance.
• Display Panel G P U Pairing: Match the GPU's capability to the laptop's display. The game's fast-paced combat benefits from a responsive, high-refresh-rate panel.
• M U X Switch N V I D I A Advanced Optimus: A MUX switch or Advanced Optimus is beneficial for reducing latency, which is crucial for the timing of the new dodge roll mechanic.
• Driver Updates O S Optimization: Keeping GPU drivers updated is crucial for performance and stability, especially for new content patches.

• G P U T G P: A high TGP is essential. A low-power variant of a recommended GPU may perform significantly worse and struggle to maintain stable framerates, especially in visually complex areas.
• Cooling Thermals: Unreal Engine 5 can heavily stress both the CPU and GPU. An advanced cooling solution will be necessary to prevent thermal throttling during intense boss fights and exploration.
• C P U Power Limits: While the game appears GPU-bound, a capable laptop CPU with good power delivery is needed to handle the complex physics and AI without causing stutters.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended to minimize latency and ensure the GPU's full performance is utilized, which is vital for the game's fast-paced, precision-based combat.