Branding Discussion Group

The economy of Path of Exile 2 is a living, breathing system shaped by both developer decisions and player ingenuity. Over the years, Grinding Gear Games has introduced, adjusted, and sometimes outright removed certain currency types, creating a history of economic experiments that never made it into the final version of the game. Among these forgotten relics are what players now call the "retconned" orbs—currency items that were tested internally, briefly implemented, or considered for release but ultimately erased from POE 2’s official economy. These orbs exist only in the memories of beta testers, datamined files, and developer interviews, yet they continue to spark discussions about alternative economies and what could have been.

One of the most infamous examples of a retconned orb was the Prototype Alchemy Orb, an experimental currency item designed to function as a hybrid between the traditional Alchemy Orb and Chaos Orb. Initially conceived as a way to balance early-game item crafting, this orb would not only upgrade a normal item to a rare but also allow a reroll effect if the player was unsatisfied with the result. The developers quickly realized that such an item could devalue both standard Alchemy and Chaos Orbs, disrupting the economic balance that had been carefully tuned over multiple expansions. Internal tests reportedly showed that players hoarded Prototype Alchemy Orbs and began relying on them exclusively, making Chaos Orbs nearly obsolete in low- to mid-tier crafting. Before ever seeing an official release, the orb was quietly removed from the game’s code, leaving only references in early patch notes and datamined game files.

Another fascinating case of a retconned currency was the Orb of Immutability. This orb was designed to create a fixed, permanent stat roll on an item, preventing any further modifications. The idea behind this currency was to give players the ability to lock in a perfect roll while still preserving the challenge of acquiring the right base item. However, during internal balancing, the developers discovered that it clashed with POE’s fundamental philosophy of constant item progression and risk-taking. By allowing a form of permanence, the Orb of Immutability encouraged hoarding over continued engagement with the crafting system. Recognizing the unintended consequences, the developers removed the orb before it could ever be introduced into the game. Today, remnants of its existence remain in archived patch notes and design discussions, leading some players to speculate about a future version of the orb being reintroduced with refined mechanics.

One of the more controversial retconned orbs was the Transcendence Orb, which briefly appeared in early closed beta versions of POE 2. This orb was designed to function as an ultra-rare currency item that could transfer one modifier from an item to another of the same type. Players who got their hands on it during limited tests immediately began exploiting its mechanics, moving the most valuable modifiers from high-end rare items onto otherwise undesirable gear, bypassing the need for natural crafting progression. This led to an unintended economic stratification, where players with access to even a single Transcendence Orb could manipulate the market in ways that made traditional crafting methods feel obsolete. The item was quickly removed from circulation, and only a few players ever got to witness its effects firsthand.

Beyond individual currency items, POE 2’s economy has also seen entire crafting mechanics tested and subsequently erased from the game’s development history. One such system involved "Timeworn Orbs," a set of currency items that allowed players to interact with past versions of POE’s economy. These orbs would have enabled players to apply outdated crafting rules to items, essentially creating a parallel economic system where certain mechanics from previous leagues remained accessible. While intriguing in theory, Timeworn Orbs created too many balance issues, as they allowed legacy item crafting that would break the integrity of the modern economy. The system was scrapped entirely, though traces of its existence can be found in early concept art and developer discussions.

The idea of retconned orbs raises an interesting question about the evolution of game economies. POE 2 is a game that thrives on player agency, and every new addition to the currency system has the potential to reshape the way items are valued and traded. By looking at these lost currency types, players gain insight into the delicate balancing act that goes into designing an economy where both scarcity and abundance play crucial roles. While these experimental orbs may never return in their original forms, their influence lingers in the careful design choices that continue to shape POE 2’s ever-evolving economy.

For some players, the existence of these scrapped currency items serves as a reminder of the unseen hands shaping the game’s financial landscape. Dataminers and theorycrafters still search for hints of lost mechanics, hoping that one day a version of these retconned orbs might reappear. Whether they are remembered as cautionary tales of economic imbalance or as intriguing what-ifs, these forgotten orbs stand as a testament to the depth and complexity of POE 2’s economic design.

U4GM has built a strong reputation in the gaming community, with thousands of satisfied players who rely on their services for buy path of exile 2 currency. Positive reviews highlight their reliability and efficiency.  Recommended Article:PoE 2 Relics Guide: Mechanics, Mods, Types, and Unique Relics