Last Epoch's PS5 Grand Entrance: Expansion in Tow, No More PC-Only Blues!
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
PC ARPG darling Last Epoch is finally making the leap to PS5, bringing its first major expansion, Orobyss, along for a simultaneous launch, promising console players a deep, customizable dungeon-crawling feast.
Right, so picture this: You’ve been watching from the sidelines, maybe with a touch of envy, as your PC mates rave about *Last Epoch*, that action RPG that's been cooking up a storm. And fair dinkum, it’s been a proper hit since its February launch, building a passionate following like a good tavern collects loyal patrons. But now, Eleventh Hour Games has pulled a rabbit out of the hat – or maybe cast a portal spell a bit too perfectly – and *Last Epoch* is officially making the jump to PlayStation 5. And not just the base game, mind you. Its first major expansion, *Orobyss*, is coming along for the ride, launching simultaneously. Talk about a grand entrance!
This rather delightful news, originally brought to our attention by the keen eyes of Matthew Schomer over at Game Rant, dropped during the September 24 State of Play livestream. It’s the kind of announcement that gets my digital wizard antennae twitching, because it’s not just a simple port; it’s a full-throttle commitment to a whole new player base, right from the get-go for new content. That's a bold move, and I'm always here for a developer showing that kind of confidence.
For those who haven't been dabbling in the arcane arts of *Last Epoch* on PC, let's set the scene, shall we? This isn't just another dungeon crawler that popped up overnight. It’s a game that emerged from a rather successful Kickstarter campaign, raking in over $250,000 – proving there was a definite hunger for something a bit different, a bit more thoughtful, in the ARPG space. And it's only grown from there. We've seen it hit peaks of over 80,000 concurrent players on Steam recently with its Season 3 content, which included a rather meaty reworking of classes and the addition of the Primalist. That's a solid showing, even if it hasn't quite touched its all-time high of nearly 265,000 players during its initial launch surge. These aren't just numbers, mate; they're a testament to a passionate community and a game that's genuinely doing a lot right. It’s been building its own little digital empire, one satisfying loot drop at a time.
Now, bringing a game like this to console isn’t just a copy-and-paste job. It’s a whole new beast to tame. We're talking about adapting intricate PC controls to a gamepad, rejigging the UI for a living room screen, and ensuring buttery-smooth performance on different hardware specifications. Eleventh Hour Games saying they're launching the *Orobyss* expansion *with* the PS5 version suggests they're pretty darn confident in their development process. That, or they’ve got a time-traveling dev team just like the game’s protagonist – which, given the time-bending narrative of *Last Epoch*, wouldn't entirely surprise me, to be honest. Maybe they just zipped forward to the future where the PS5 version is already polished and ready. Who knows!
Speaking of time travel, *Last Epoch*'s story throws you into a world under seemingly insurmountable odds, squaring off against gods and messing with the very fabric of reality to prevent a cataclysmic Void from consuming all existence. It's got that classic ARPG loop of hack-and-slash, loot-and-level-up, but with a unique temporal twist that makes you feel like a reality-bending wizard yourself. And the *Orobyss* expansion? Well, the name alone should set off alarm bells for anyone steeped in the lore. Orobyss is a pretty prominent god character, intrinsically linked to that very same dreaded Void. So, you can bet your best legendary relic that this expansion is going to dial up the maddening adventure, probably throwing players head-first into some seriously challenging new threats and weaving even more of that delicious, timey-wimey narrative.
What makes *Last Epoch* so sticky, even for someone who's seen a few hundred ARPGs in their time (and trust me, I've poked my nose into *a lot* of digital dungeons)? It boils down to customization and depth, mate. We're talking 15 different mastery classes, each with branching skill trees offering over 130 options. That's not just a little wiggle room; that's an entire ballroom of build potential, where you can truly craft a character that feels uniquely *yours*. Combine that with a deep loot system that genuinely encourages experimentation – instead of just chasing one "best in slot" item – and you've got a recipe for hundreds of hours of satisfying character crafting and re-crafting. The base campaign alone is a solid 33-35 hours, including side quests, so the *Orobyss* expansion is promising to heap even more story-based content onto that already robust foundation. PS5 players are getting a proper feast, not just an appetizer.
Now, for a bit of Jeff-style gentle skepticism. While the news is undeniably grand, we still don't have a concrete release date. The presenter at State of Play confirmed it's "currently in development" for PlayStation 5, and critically, the expansion "won't be released on either platform until the PS5 version of *Last Epoch* is ready to go." On one hand, good on Eleventh Hour Games for ensuring a polished, simultaneous launch for *Orobyss* across both PC and PS5. No one wants a half-baked port or a delayed expansion, do they? We've all seen that movie, and it rarely ends well. But on the other, this does mean PC players eager for new content might be cooling their heels a bit while the console version gets its ducks in a row. It’s a tricky balancing act, ensuring a good experience for everyone without inadvertently penalizing existing fans. Patience, as they say, is a virtue – especially in gaming development.
This move to console is a smart play by Eleventh Hour Games, especially given the roaring success of other ARPGs on PlayStation recently. Think *Diablo IV*'s massive splash, or *Path of Exile*'s long-standing presence. Console players are hungry for deep, engaging ARPG experiences that offer genuine progression and strategic depth, and *Last Epoch* certainly fits that bill. It brings a fresh perspective to the genre, leaning into genuine player agency through its build diversity rather than just chasing the latest monetization fad (thank the digital gods for that). It’s about the journey, the build, the loot, and the battles – not just opening another digital treasure chest with dubious odds.
So, what does this all mean for us curious gamers? Well, if you're on PS5, you're about to get access to an ARPG that's been consistently impressing PC players with its depth, innovative skill system, and engaging time-travel narrative. And you're getting it with a brand-new, lore-rich expansion that promises to crank up the stakes. If you're a PC player, it means your community is about to grow significantly, but you might have to practice a little patience for that *Orobyss* content drop. Either way, it's a good time to be an ARPG fan, and *Last Epoch*'s arrival on PS5 feels less like a simple port and more like a significant expansion of its magical influence. Let's hope Eleventh Hour Games sticks the landing – I've got a feeling this could be a bloody good one.
Tags: Action RPG, Last Epoch, PS5, Gaming News, Eleventh Hour Games
Original article: Game Rant