Krafton Snaps Up Last Epoch Dev: Good News or Goblin Curse?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Krafton, the PUBG powerhouse, has acquired Eleventh Hour Games, the studio behind Last Epoch, raising questions of whether this is a boon or a corporate curse for the action RPG. While promises of expanded resources and hiring abound, the acquisition also evokes memories of Krafton's previous controversial decisions, leaving the game's future delightfully uncertain.
Right, so Krafton – you know, the folks behind PUBG and, more recently, *Subnautica 2* – have gone and bought Eleventh Hour Games, the studio that conjured up *Last Epoch*. Now, before we all start casting protection spells against corporate shenanigans, let's have a proper look, shall we?
According to Game Rant, Eleventh Hour Games' founder, Judd Cobler, announced on the official *Last Epoch* forums that they're joining the Krafton family. Cobler seems genuinely chuffed about it, reckons it'll give them more resources and opportunities to take *Last Epoch* to the next level. He paints a picture of this solo passion project blossoming into a team of over 100, which is quite the glow-up, fair play.
Now, I know what you're thinking: Krafton? Isn't that the same company that's been duking it out with the *Subnautica 2* crew? Yeah, it is. There's been a bit of a kerfuffle involving the previous leadership team and a rather large pile of cash. But, as we all know, the gaming industry is a swirling vortex of chaos, and sometimes you just have to shrug and see what pops out next.
Cobler assures us that Krafton shares their passion for action RPGs and that they'll keep listening to the community. Which, frankly, is what you'd *expect* them to say, isn't it? Still, it's always good to hear.
The *Last Epoch* team is apparently expanding too. Cobler's post mentioned they'll be hiring "many roles" in the coming weeks and months. So, it sounds like Krafton is actually investing in the game, which is a darn sight better than the alternative. Remember when Krafton laid off a bunch of *Callisto Protocol* developers? Ouch. On the flip side, they also stepped in to save Tango Gameworks (the *Hi-Fi Rush* lot) after Microsoft seemed ready to pull the plug. Confusing, innit?
Krafton's been around since 2007, and they've grown into a massive $10 billion company. They've got plans to expand their game library even further, so snapping up Eleventh Hour Games is just one piece of the puzzle.
So, what does this all mean? Well, on the one hand, it's a good sign that a successful indie studio like Eleventh Hour Games is getting the chance to grow. More resources, more opportunities, potentially more awesome content for *Last Epoch*. On the other hand, big corporate acquisitions always carry a risk. Will Krafton meddle too much? Will they try to shoehorn in some dodgy monetization scheme? (Please, no.)
Ultimately, only time will tell if this acquisition is a boon or a curse. But for now, let's raise a glass to *Last Epoch* and hope that it continues to deliver the goods, even under the watchful eye of a gaming giant.
Tags: Last Epoch, Krafton, Gaming Acquisition, Indie Games, ARPG
Original article: Game Rant