NZ online game hits 13m users

A scene from Grinding Gear Games' latest expansion of 'Path of Exile', 'Ascendancy'.

Grinding Gear Games has reached 13 million users for its recent expansion of Path of Exile: Ascendancy as the Auckland-based gaming developer gets ready for a trade mission to the US.

The game, which was first developed in 2006 and released in 2013, has been through four expansions, seeing its support network of players grow to record numbers.

New Zealand Gaming Association chairperson Stephen Knightley said 13 million users is a huge achievement, particularly for a single computer game.

Path of Exile: Ascendancy took nine months to develop - three months longer than average versions of the game.

Grinding Gear Games' co-founder and managing director Chris Wilson said hitting the 13 million mark gave the developers the safety and opportunity to play with future expansions.

"When I found out that we had reached 13 million users, I felt great pride for the work that our team had done. The user count is a testament to their hard work over the years," he said.

Path of Exile computer game creators pictured from left: Jonathan Rogers, Eric Olofsson and Chris Wilson. Photo / Richard Robinson

Next week Grinding Gear Games and 14 other Kiwi game developers will travel to San Francisco for the annual Game Developers Conference as part of a trade mission, which will provide opportunities to network and recruit senior international talent.

The conference is being supported by Immigration New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, who will assist people to relocate to the country.

Path of Exile is Grinding Gear Games' only game.

Watch: Trailer of 'Path of Exile: Ascendancy'