Last Epoch Caught in a Storm of Controversy: Krafton Acquisition and Paid Class DLC Spark Outrage

The Action RPG community for Last Epoch has recently been engulfed in an unprecedented wave of negativity. Following the acquisition of developer Eleventh Hour Games (EHG) by Krafton (the parent company of PUBG), and the subsequent announcement of a new roadmap and monetization strategy, the player base has reacted with intense controversy and anger.

Here is a breakdown of the core issues driving the recent controversy:

I. The Shift in Monetization: From "Free Content" to "Paid Class"

The central point of contention stems from the developers' decision to retract a long-standing promise. Since its Kickstarter launch in 2018, the development team had consistently stated that after the initial purchase, all future gameplay content and expansions would be provided free of charge, with the only extra monetization coming from cosmetics.

However, the latest announcement detailed a change:

• Paid DLC Class The upcoming expansion pack itself will be free for existing PC players, but a core gameplay element—the new "Paradox Class"—will be sold separately as paid DLC. The price details have yet to be announced.
• Bundling Speculation For new players and those on the forthcoming PS5 platform, the game is likely to be sold as a bundle of "base game + expansion," which is anticipated to be priced higher than the current game price (speculation suggests a possible jump from $33.50 to $44.50 or $50).

This decision has been widely viewed by the community as a betrayal of early backers.

II. Community Fear: The Shadow of Pay-to-Win

Beyond the broken promise, players are deeply concerned about the potential for "Pay-to-Win". Although the developers insist the Paradox Class will not be overpowered, new classes in ARPGs are often incentivized to be strong to drive sales. The community fears that players who do not purchase the DLC will fall behind in power, leading to an unbalanced game environment.

III. The Roadmap: Slow Pace and Lack of Substance

The official content roadmap released by EHG has also received heavy criticism, with one prominent creator calling it the "worst roadmap" he had ever seen.

• Vague Information The roadmap was described as containing "no new information" and was criticized for being condensed into essentially a single sentence of already known information.
• Long Wait Season 4 (S4) is tentatively scheduled for early 2026, followed by Season 5 (S5), and then the expansion pack, codenamed "Orbis". Some believe the expansion may not arrive until 2027.
• Shaman Update Conjecture Based on a single piece of new art in the roadmap, Season 5 is speculated to include an update for the Shaman class, which has been missing its fifth skill for a long time.

IV. Struggle for Survival: The Independent Studio's Dilemma

In defense of the developers, veteran ARPG creators have offered a contrasting perspective: The changes are necessary for survival.

• Financial Reality The "buy-to-play + cosmetic microtransactions" model proved unsustainable for funding a team of approximately 100 people. EHG's cosmetics revenue could not compete with AAA budgets like Diablo 4 or Path of Exile 2.
• The Acquisition Context The acquisition by Krafton was not the cause of the commercialization but a reaction to the studio's financial struggles. The company was already aware of the losses before the acquisition, and the resulting business plan was a requirement to ensure the company's profitability and continued existence.
• The Choice The developers reportedly had only two options: "find a new parent company or shut down" and lay off staff. For EHG, increasing monetization was considered the better choice than closing the doors.

V. Conclusion: The Clash of Vision and Reality

The story of Last Epoch was once a "miracle story" of an independent team taking on industry giants. However, EHG is now grappling with the harsh reality of long-term development. They face the pressure of monetization while simultaneously managing significant technical debt, including overhauling old assets, fixing bugs, and finishing the incomplete campaign.

For the dissatisfied players, the anger is understandable, and voting with their wallets is a legitimate right. However, it is also argued that the current path, despite breaking previous promises, might be the only viable solution to keep Last Epoch alive and prevent the company from shutting down. The coming seasons will determine whether the development team can deliver on content and successfully navigate this unprecedented crisis.