Grinding Gear Games is preparing to remove Path of Exile’s long-standing socket-and-link system, a defining mechanic that has also frustrated players for years. The change would mark a major shift for the action RPG after 13 years, potentially making character building and gear management easier to understand and less dependent on finding highly specific items.

The current system requires players to match skill gems with linked sockets on equipment, creating powerful combinations but often forcing awkward equipment choices. While the article frames the mechanic as iconic, the developers’ apparent readiness to replace it suggests they believe its complexity and inconvenience now outweigh its benefits for many players.