Major gaming acquisition complete! KRAFTON has successfully acquired Eleventh Hour Games, the talented studio behind the popular action RPG Last Epoch. This strategic move strengthens KRAFTON’s position in the competitive ARPG market while providing EHG with resources for ambitious expansion plans.
Table of Contents
Last Epoch’s Impressive Success Story
Eleventh Hour Games represents a remarkable indie success story, transforming from a grassroots Reddit recruitment effort in 2017 into a globally recognized ARPG developer with millions of sales.
| Milestone | Last Epoch Journey |
|---|---|
| Studio Founded | 2017 via Reddit recruitment |
| Kickstarter Launch | 2018 funding campaign |
| Early Access | April 30, 2019 on Steam |
| Version 1.0 Release | February 21, 2024 |
| Total Sales | 3 million copies since launch |
| Acquisition Date | 2025 by KRAFTON |
Strategic Benefits for Both Companies
The acquisition aims to secure competitive franchise IP in the Action RPG genre while providing Eleventh Hour Games with crucial infrastructure and resources for growth.
KRAFTON’s Investment Goals:
- Secure competitive ARPG franchise IP
- Strengthen global market position
- Support live service roadmap development
- Enable international publishing expansion
EHG’s Growth Opportunities:
- Console platform development scaling
- Expanded seasonal content pipelines
- Team expansion capabilities
- Long-term franchise development support
Creative Autonomy Preserved
KRAFTON has committed to allowing Eleventh Hour Games to retain full leadership and creative autonomy, addressing common concerns about large publisher acquisitions stifling developer creativity.
CEO Judd Cobler expressed enthusiasm, calling the acquisition “a dream come true” and highlighting KRAFTON’s “deep-rooted passion for ARPGs” as perfectly aligned with their mission.
Industry Context and Concerns
The acquisition occurs amid ongoing legal tensions between KRAFTON and Unknown Worlds co-founders over Subnautica 2 development, raising questions about publisher-developer relationships within KRAFTON’s portfolio.
Unknown Worlds’ allegations include claims that KRAFTON delayed Subnautica 2 to avoid paying a $250 million bonus, creating industry scrutiny around KRAFTON’s studio management practices.
Future Prospects for Last Epoch
With KRAFTON’s backing, Last Epoch is positioned for significant expansion across console platforms and enhanced live service content delivery. The game’s strong foundation of 3 million sales provides excellent momentum for franchise development.
For ARPG enthusiasts, this acquisition could mean more frequent content updates, console accessibility, and long-term franchise stability.
The combination of EHG’s creative talent and KRAFTON’s publishing resources should benefit the growing Last Epoch community with improved service delivery and expanded platform availability.
FAQs
Will Last Epoch’s development direction change under KRAFTON?
EHG retains full creative autonomy while gaining resources for expansion.
When will Last Epoch be available on consoles?
Console development scaling is planned but no specific timeline announced yet.,
