Last Epoch Faces Backlash over Planned Paid Classes
Players express discontent as Eleventh Hour games announces new “Paradox classes” will require additional purchase, breaking with previous promises of free content.
A possibly reputation-damaging declaration has thrown Eleventh Hour Games, the studio behind the popular action RPG Last Epoch, into turmoil. While not a catastrophic update, the decision to introduce paid classes has sparked significant player backlash, especially on Steam, threatening to derail the game’s momentum as a rival to titles like Diablo IV.
The controversy centers around the forthcoming “orobyss” expansion, slated for release in 2026. Eleventh Hour Games initially announced that Orobyss would be a free update for all existing owners of the base game. Though, the studio quickly followed this announcement with news of “Paradox classes” – entirely new playable classes – that will be sold as separate, paid downloadable content.
According to the studio, Orobyss represents the first major expansion for Last Epoch and will follow the completion of seasons 4 and 5 in 2026. Players who purchase the game after the expansion’s launch will recieve both the base game and the new content as a bundled package. The core issue, though, lies with the Paradox classes, described as utilizing “fully choice playable classes” with unique systems distinct from the rest of the game. Access to these classes will require an additional financial investment.
this decision represents a significant departure from the studio’s long-standing commitment to providing all future content for free, or limited to cosmetic items. “Converting classes into paid content borders on what is considered ‘pay-to-win’,” one player commented on the studio blog, echoing a sentiment widely shared across online forums and Steam reviews. Recent reviews have plummeted,falling below a 50% positive rating,with one user succinctly stating,”Paid classes? Yuck! Rest in peace Last Epoch.” Many players are warning they may abandon the game if the Paradox classes prove unbalanced or become essential for endgame progression.
Despite the negative reaction, the studio is defending its decision, citing financial challenges. A company release stated that previous seasons had not been profitable, necessitating the exploration of new funding models to ensure the long-term sustainability of the project. The studio insists it remains committed to its “artisanal development” beliefs and that the primary content stream will remain free.
“We assure our community that we will maintain our philosophy of artisanal development and that the main content will continue to be free,” a senior official stated.
For now, the fate of Last Epoch hangs in the balance, dependent on whether eleventh Hour games can address player concerns or reverse its course. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance game developers must strike between financial viability and community trust.
Why did this happen? Eleventh Hour Games announced that new “Paradox classes” for the upcoming “Orobyss” expansion would be sold as separate, paid downloadable content. This broke with their previous commitment to providing all future content for free. The studio cited financial challenges, stating previous seasons were not profitable and new funding models were needed.
Who is involved? Eleventh Hour Games, the developer of Last Epoch, is at the center of the controversy. Players of Last Epoch are expressing their discontent through negative reviews and forum posts.
What is the core issue? The core issue is the introduction of paid classes, which players view as a departure from the game’s established free-content model and potentially “pay-to-win.”
How did it end? As of now, the situation remains unresolved. Eleventh Hour Games is defending its decision, but the fate of the Paradox classes and the future of Last
