KRAFTON Acquires Eleventh Hour Games, Developers of Last Epoch, Amid Industry Turmoil
KRAFTON, the publisher behind PUBG and more recently embroiled in controversy over its relationship with Unknown Worlds and the delayed Subnautica 2, is back in the spotlight this time for a high-profile acquisition. The company has officially acquired Eleventh Hour Games (EHG), the studio behind the breakout ARPG title Last Epoch.
Founded in 2017 by Judd Cobler, Eleventh Hour Games grew from humble beginnings, initially recruiting talent through Reddit before launching a successful Kickstarter campaign. The studio's flagship title Last Epoch entered Early Access on Steam on April 30, 2019, and after years of development, officially released version 1.0 on February 21, 2024. Since its full release, Last Epoch has sold over 3 million copies, according to the official press release announcing the acquisition.
KRAFTON commented on the move:
“Through this acquisition, KRAFTON aims to secure a competitive franchise IP in the Action RPG genre and further strengthen its position in the global market.”
The publisher emphasized that the deal will allow EHG to retain full creative autonomy, while benefiting from KRAFTON’s global infrastructure and publishing capabilities. This includes scaling development to console platforms, expanding seasonal content, and supporting a live service roadmap. With these additional resources, EHG will be better equipped to serve its growing community and build a long-term franchise around Last Epoch.
Maria Park, Head of Corporate Development at KRAFTON, added:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Eleventh Hour Games into the KRAFTON family. Their rise from a grassroots studio to a globally renowned ARPG developer is nothing short of remarkable. This acquisition reaffirms our unwavering passion for great games and the teams that build them. We will always stand behind developers who put players first.”
That closing remark stands out, given KRAFTON’s ongoing legal conflict with Subnautica 2 co-founders. The dispute centers around allegations that KRAFTON delayed the game to avoid paying a $250 million milestone bonus to the Unknown Worlds team, straining what was once described as a cooperative relationship. The Subnautica situation casts a shadow over KRAFTON’s current promise to maintain developer autonomy—especially since Unknown Worlds co-founder Charlie Cleveland had expressed similarly optimistic sentiments when his studio was first acquired.
On the EHG side, CEO Judd Cobler described the acquisition as “a dream come true.”
“KRAFTON’s deep-rooted passion for ARPGs aligns perfectly with our mission. With their support, EHG is poised to elevate the Last Epoch franchise to even greater heights. As a studio built by players of the genre, we couldn’t be more excited for its future.”
Whether this partnership truly represents a long-term win for both sides or follows a path similar to KRAFTON’s strained history with Unknown Worlds remains to be seen. For now, the acquisition signals major ambition from KRAFTON to establish a dominant foothold in the ARPG space, a genre seeing renewed global interest with titles like Diablo IV, Path of Exile 2, and now Last Epoch leading the charge.
What do you think about KRAFTON’s growing portfolio and this move into ARPGs? Will Last Epoch thrive under its new parent? Let us know in the comments below.
