Grinding Gear Games will have Path of Exile 2 Steam Deck verified by the end of May, a milestone that signals the developer's serious interest in bringing the action RPG to Nintendo Switch 2.
The studio confirmed the timeline to Eurogamer, positioning the Deck verification as a stepping stone toward console ports. Steam Deck verification matters because it demonstrates that developers have optimized their games for handheld play. The technical work required to achieve that certification translates directly to preparing games for other portable hardware.
Path of Exile 2, the sequel to the beloved free-to-play action RPG that launched in 2010, released in early access on PC in December 2024. The game demands substantial processing power for its dense combat encounters and particle effects. Getting it running smoothly on Steam Deck's custom AMD hardware requires significant optimization work around UI scaling, performance targets, and battery consumption.
The Deck verification announcement hints at broader platform ambitions. Switch 2, Nintendo's expected next console, is rumored to use Nvidia technology that could theoretically support more demanding titles than the current Switch. Publishers and developers are quietly preparing ports, and Grinding Gear Games appears to be among them.
Reaching Deck verification by month's end puts Path of Exile 2 ahead of many indie and mid-tier releases in the handheld optimization race. For Grinding Gear Games, it's a calculated move. The studio has proven expertise with successful PC monetization through cosmetics and battle passes. A Switch 2 port would expand that audience into Nintendo's ecosystem while leveraging the technical foundation they're building now.
The statement reflects industry momentum. Switch 2's impending launch has triggered a quiet arms race among developers to secure day-one or launch window compatibility. Grinding Gear Games is signaling they intend to be ready.
THE TAKEAWAY: Steam Deck verification serves as both a technical achievement and a public commitment to portable gaming, suggesting Path of Exile 2 will reach Nintendo Switch 2 sooner rather than later.