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Last Epoch Dev's Paid Class Announcement Controversy and Future Prospects
Last Epoch developer Eleventh Hour Games is facing backlash from the community after announcing the Paradox Class in the form of paid DLC after being acquired by Krafton. The main reasons for criticism are the past promise that there would be no paid DLC and the fact that the game's completion is still insufficient. The developer explained that it was an inevitable choice to secure funds, but it is uncertain whether they can restore community trust and brighten the game's future.
1. 🎮 Last Epoch, Backlash After Paid DLC Announcement: Community's Fury
- ✅ Eleventh Hour Games (EHG) has announced that the next expansion for Last Epoch will include the Paradox Class in the form of paid DLC.
- ⚠️ Following this announcement, concerns are growing in the community about the future of the game after EHG was acquired by Krafton.
- ❌ Many users are criticizing EHG, pointing out that they had promised not to introduce paid DLC in the past.
00:00 - 00:26
1. 🎮 Last Epoch, Backlash After Paid DLC Announcement: Community's Fury
- ✅ Eleventh Hour Games (EHG) has announced that the next expansion for Last Epoch will include the Paradox Class in the form of paid DLC.
- ⚠️ Following this announcement, concerns are growing in the community about the future of the game after EHG was acquired by Krafton.
- ❌ Many users are criticizing EHG, pointing out that they had promised not to introduce paid DLC in the past.
00:27 - 00:47
2. 🎮 Last Epoch's Crisis: Competition with Path of Exile, Diablo
- ✅ Last Epoch has been striving to stand out in the ARPG market, where strong competitors like Path of Exile and Diablo exist.
- ⚠️ However, the recent controversy has clouded the game's future, revealing the developer's difficult situation.
00:48 - 01:26
3. 🎮 Deepening Community Distrust After Krafton Acquisition
- ✅ Community trust has significantly declined since EHG was acquired by Krafton for $96 million.
- ⚠️ Users are expressing concerns that Krafton will ruin the game, and pessimistic views are emerging that the development team will be replaced by AI.
- ❌ The recent controversy over the PS5 port and the paid 'Orabus' expansion has further deepened this distrust.
01:27 - 02:28
4. 🎮 CEO's Explanation Fails to Appease Public Opinion: Criticism at the Level of a 'Trash Fire'
- ✅ CEO Jud Cobbler clarified that the new expansion will not be paid, and only the Paradox Class will be offered as paid DLC.
- ⚠️ However, despite this explanation, the community's reaction remains negative, with fierce criticism pouring in at the level of a 'trash fire'.
02:29 - 04:55
5. 🎮 Why Users Are Angry: Reversal of Past Promises and Unfinished Game
- ✅ The main reasons why users are angry are as follows:
- EHG had promised not to introduce paid DLC in the past, but they have reversed this.
- The game campaign is not complete, some classes and skills are unfinished, and bugs and typos still exist.
- There is a great deal of antipathy towards releasing paid DLC in this situation.
04:56 - 07:26
6. 🎮 Developer's Difficulties: Lack of Funds and Inevitable Choices
- ✅ The developer explains that they had to sell the studio due to lack of funds, and the introduction of paid DLC was an inevitable choice.
- Jud Cobbler stated that EHG had four options in the past (selling to Krafton, selling to a worse publisher, developing another game, closing the studio).
- The developer could have secured funds through a better MTX sales strategy, but they judged that the graphics level of Last Epoch had limitations.
07:27 - 08:48
7. 🎮 Intensified Competition and Lack of Game Completion: Factors in Last Epoch's Failure
- ✅ Last Epoch entered the ARPG market with strong competitors like Diablo and Path of Exile, but it has not succeeded.
- From personal experience, the game's foundation is excellent, but the lack of animation, graphics, and sound design made it difficult to feel immersed.
- Many users like Last Epoch, but recent news has led to a decline in sales, and pessimistic views are emerging that recovery will be difficult.
08:49 - 10:45
8. 🎮 Importance of Community Trust: Path of Exile's Success Story
- ✅ Community trust is a very important factor in the success of a game.
- Path of Exile developer Grinding Gear Games sold a stake to Tencent in 2018, but maintained trust through transparent communication with the community.
- After the Tencent acquisition, they quickly showed positive changes such as the announcement of Path of Exile 2 and the holding of Exile Con, gaining the support of the community.
- However, Krafton has not shown positive changes after acquiring Last Epoch, and only negative news is being reported.
10:46 - 12:38
9. 🎮 Bleak Roadmap and Difficult Game Market: What is the Future of Last Epoch?
- ✅ Last Epoch's roadmap is very bleak, with Seasons 4 and 5 scheduled to be released in early 2026, but no specific dates have been set.
- The 'Orabus' expansion, which includes paid DLC, is scheduled to be released, but it is being criticized for breaking past promises.
- Surviving as a developer in the competitive game market is very difficult, and Last Epoch is not showing a bright outlook.
12:39 - 14:21
10. 🎮 The Tragedy of Icarus: Last Epoch's Excessive Ambition?
- ✅ Like the tragedy of Icarus in Greek mythology, it is worth considering whether the Last Epoch developer grew too quickly and had excessive ambitions.
- If they had reduced the size of the development team and developed more slowly but steadily, they might have faced a better future than now.
14:22 - 16:23
11. 🎮 Maintaining a Positive View and Support: Looking Forward to Last Epoch's Recovery
- ✅ The current situation is very difficult, but I hope that Last Epoch can recover and restore community trust.
- It is important to understand the situation in which the developer had no choice but to make difficult decisions, maintain a positive view, and support them.