U4GM Would You Play POE 2 Without Currency?

Currency in Path of Exile 2 is more than just a trade medium. It is the very foundation upon which the game's crafting, trading, and progression systems are built. From Chaos Orbs to Divine Orbs, each currency item plays a specific role in shaping builds, modifying gear, and facilitating trades between players. Without currency, the crafting system would lose its complexity, trading would collapse, and economic planning would no longer be a part of the endgame loop. The question of whether players would still engage with POE 2 if currency was removed leads us to examine how deeply embedded it is in the game's identity.

If currency were removed from the game, crafting would likely need to shift to a more deterministic or resource-based system. Currently, crafting involves a mix of luck and economic investment using currency items like Orbs of Alchemy or Exalted Orbs. Without those, the system would require a complete overhaul. A deterministic crafting model might let players use loot materials or encounter-specific resources to modify items directly, removing the element of chance. While this could appeal to casual players or those frustrated by RNG, it might diminish the sense of reward and discovery that comes from slamming a perfect mod or winning a big trade.

POE’s trade system, while not auction-based, relies heavily on standardized values provided by currency items. If you eliminate currency, what would players use to trade with each other? Raw gear? Unique items? Boss drops? A barter-only system could work in theory but would drastically slow down the market and make fair trade valuation extremely difficult. It would likely also discourage many players who enjoy the mini-game of flipping items and building wealth through economic means. While some niche games have succeeded with barter-only economies, POE’s complexity and scale would make such a model less practical for most of its audience.

For many players, acquiring currency is a form of progression in POE 2. It's the reward for efficient farming, the product of market knowledge, and the key to unlocking endgame builds. Removing currency would change how players measure success. Instead of building wealth and buying upgrades, players might be forced to rely solely on RNG drops or quest-based crafting resources. While this could appeal to purists or those who dislike trading, it would eliminate a large part of what makes POE 2 endlessly replayable. Many players find motivation in setting goals like earning a Mirror of Kalandra or saving up for mirror-tier gear, goals that would vanish without a currency economy.