Krafton Acquires “Last Epoch” Developer Eleventh Hour Games for $96 Million

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Krafton, the publisher behind "PUBG" and "Subnautica," has officially acquired Eleventh Hour Games, the independent studio responsible for the popular action RPG "Last Epoch." The deal, valued at $96 million, aims to bolster "Last Epoch’s" development and expand its reach to new platforms, while assuring fans of continued creative autonomy for the studio.

Krafton’s Strategic Acquisition

Krafton has fully acquired Eleventh Hour Games for an initial consideration of $96 million. The South Korean conglomerate, known for its diverse gaming portfolio, sees this acquisition as a key step in strengthening its position in the global market and securing a competitive franchise IP within the action RPG genre. Eleventh Hour Games, a fully remote studio, will continue to operate under its existing leadership and organizational structure, maintaining creative autonomy. Krafton plans to provide publishing and live-service resources to support the studio’s growth.

"Last Epoch" Poised for Expansion

Eleventh Hour Games, which has been developing "Last Epoch" since 2017, views this partnership as a significant opportunity to realize its vision for the game. Founder Judd Cobler stated that the acquisition will provide the resources needed to "execute on our goal of creating the very best ARPG in the genre." The studio intends to scale development across console platforms and expand its seasonal content pipelines, ensuring the long-term development of the "Last Epoch" franchise. "Last Epoch" is currently enjoyed by millions of players, and the studio plans to aggressively expand to meet its ambitious goals.

Addressing Fan Concerns Amidst Legal Disputes

The acquisition comes at a time when Krafton is involved in a legal dispute with the former leadership of Unknown Worlds, the developers of "Subnautica." These former leaders claim they were ousted to avoid a significant bonus payout tied to "Subnautica 2’s" early access launch. Krafton has refuted these allegations, stating the developers abandoned their responsibilities. In response to fan concerns about potential repercussions for Eleventh Hour Games, Cobler assured that "Krafton isn’t looking to change us" and that the publisher is aligned with their mission. He emphasized that Krafton is enabling and guiding them through upcoming challenges, allowing them to deliver on previously unrealized dreams.

Key Takeaways

Krafton acquired Eleventh Hour Games for $96 million.
"Last Epoch" developer will maintain creative autonomy and leadership.
The deal aims to expand "Last Epoch" to consoles and enhance live services.
Eleventh Hour Games founder assures fans that the Krafton acquisition will not negatively impact the studio’s direction, despite ongoing legal issues involving Krafton and "Subnautica 2" developers.
Krafton seeks to diversify its genre portfolio and expand its franchise IPs.