The Game Feels Overly Complex and Time Demanding

I want to share some feedback about the overall direction of the game.

Right now the amount of systems, mechanics, and required knowledge feels overwhelming. It can feel less like playing a game and more like studying for a college degree. Understanding crafting systems, endgame mechanics, builds, currencies, and optimal strategies often requires hours of research outside the game.

For many players this level of complexity becomes exhausting rather than engaging.

Another concern is the heavy reliance on RNG. Many rewards and achievements feel like they depend more on luck than effort. Even when players understand the systems and optimize their builds, it can feel like pulling a slot machine lever thousands of times hoping for the right outcome.

This also creates a large time barrier. Some of the most meaningful rewards seem realistically achievable only by players who can spend 12–16 hours per day playing. For people with jobs, families, or limited time, much of the endgame can feel out of reach.

Depth and complexity are great strengths of this game, but there may be a point where too many systems and too much randomness make the experience less enjoyable for a large portion of the player base.

I concur. I started this game 01-2013 after open beta access. 3 acts and millions of docks runs (fk those Voidbearers...). Right after that leagues first started and my god, this became my #1 game.

I have totally enjoyed the ride...except the times a blind eye upon influencers and streamers have done things that would get most all of us banned for life.

The game was finding it's identity and around 2016 on it went into overdrive I feel...no more power creep.

There were times I could devote a good amount of time playing, theory crafting builds but when item crafting REALLY hit I fell behind (I couldn't create a good garden to save my arse).

The way to craft items to easily make end-game builds has taken so much out of the RNG and gave players more power to make very feasible items to take them to end-game and beyond.

Now I am at the approach to do more item crafting than actual build crafting. The tree doesn't feel as formidable as it used to.

Any new player within the past few years probably spends more time on YouTube watching videos (a lot of bait) than actually playing the game because if you don't know what your are doing, POE1 and 2 is not that forgiving.

And don't get me wrong, I love a challenge but sometimes too many options can make someone not to choose even one.