Kamil Orman-Janowski gives some insight into locale background music.

Online action role-playing game Path of Exile 2 is scheduled for a multi-platform release next year and developer Grinding Gear Games has shared a behind-the-scenes video that takes a closer look at the game’s soundtrack.

Path of Exile 2 comprises seven acts in its storyline and a shared Atlas endgame with the first Path of Exile; it will be playable alongside the campaign from its 2013 predecessor.

In-house composer and music director Kamil Orman-Janowski spoke about the kind of soundscape the studio wanted to create for the upcoming game and what inspired the direction they took with the music and audio design.

“In Path of Exile 2, we’ll get back to dark and gritty sounds but we’ll take it to another level,” he said.

“So, one of the ideas, especially for Act One, was to combine three things. First is some folk, ethnic elements. Then, some tribal elements as well. And then finally some industrial – some experimental,” Orman-Janowski explained.

“I listened to a lot of Trent Reznor, actually – him scoring for movies, some creepy experimental industrial stuff.”

On the soundtrack, in general, Orman-Janowski elaborated: “It will be much less of a typical symphonic orchestra. There will be much more synthesisers.”

In the Behind the Music: Act 1 video, various in-game locales and their respective background music are highlighted, for example, The Crypt and The Hunting Grounds.

“So in Path of Exile 2, you might expect much more difficult encounters with bosses and the music has to be more intense. It’s important to use elements which will horrify the players.”

Path of Exile 2 is scheduled for release in 2021 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows.