Julio Junior
Summary
- Grinding Gear Games' update requires Xbox players to individually purchase a $30 early-access license, ending game sharing.
- Community reaction is mixed; some players are frustrated due to previous microtransaction spending and limited access.
Path of Exile 2’s newest update has put an end to game sharing on Xbox. Grinding Gear Games, the developer behind the title, recently released the 0.2.0f patch that now requires every player to individually purchase the $30 early-access license. Although the move targets abuses by bots exploiting Xbox’s sharing features, many Xbox players who were just sharing the game with friends and family feel unfairly penalized.
We recently discovered that a group of bots were making use of the Xbox game share feature to obtain access to the Path of Exile 2 client. Some legitimate Xbox players lost access after the patch, which has now been fixed. Find out more in this news post:https://t.co/yXBbxGJN3y pic.twitter.com/21pLy2GVIS
— Path of Exile (@pathofexile) April 16, 2025
Xbox introduced game sharing in 2013, allowing one console to be set as the “Home Xbox” so that other profiles could play the same digital game without an extra purchase. Some players used this feature to play the early-access version of Path of Exile 2, but according to Grinding Gear Games, game sharing was never meant for dual access to early builds. With the patch, the rules are clear: even if you share the same console with someone, each player must now buy their own early-access copy.
The reaction from the community has been mixed. On one side, some players argue that just because they haven’t bought a separate copy doesn’t mean they haven’t already spent money on the game through microtransactions. They’re especially frustrated since Path of Exile 2 is supposed to transition into a free-to-play title once it officially launches worldwide. There are even reports of fans claiming that they spent over $100 on in-game items—which now become inaccessible unless they fork out extra cash for an early-access fee.
Additionally, the recent release of premium cosmetic items has not sat well with everyone. While the cosmetics themselves haven’t generated major controversy, many see the move as yet another instance of Grinding Gear Games placing monetization above resolving ongoing gameplay issues. On the other hand, some fans have pointed out that the development teams handling cosmetics and gameplay improvements are separate, so one update doesn’t necessarily delay the other.
Overall, it appears that Grinding Gear Games is trying to balance security measures with player expectations. The decision to disable game sharing is intended to prevent automated abuse, yet the reaction highlights a growing concern among dedicated players who feel that a legitimate Xbox feature is being misused to restrict access for genuine fans.
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Unreal 5
It’s understandable that some players feel frustrated with the new restrictions, especially if they’ve already invested in the game through microtransactions. However, it’s good to see that Grinding Gear Games is actively working to prevent exploitation, which should ultimately benefit the community in the long run. Hopefully, they can find a balance that addresses both security concerns and player access.