Photo credit: venturebeat.com
When we previously connected with Eleventh Hour Games regarding their inaugural game, the time-traveling action-RPG Last Epoch, it was a community-driven venture focused on harnessing the collective creativity of gamers on Reddit.
That discussion took place during Gamescom 2023, where I had the opportunity to speak with Judd “Moxjet” Cobler, the CEO of Eleventh Hour Games. Now, the game has surpassed 2.5 million copies sold, and the team is set to launch Season 2 through a significant update labeled Tombs of the Erased.
For Cobler, this represents a significant affirmation of their community-driven approach, which has evolved since its inception through various key milestones, including a successful Kickstarter campaign, an early access launch on Steam, and a substantial investment from Tencent.
Cobler’s aspiration for his San Antonio-based studio was to create a title that could rival the greatest RPGs in history, all while being fueled by the passion of dedicated fans who were actively involved in the development process. This journey began in 2018, and the company has since expanded to a team of 105 employees.
With the anticipation for Season Two building, Last Epoch has seen a remarkable 150% increase in user engagement compared to its first season. Although the studio secured $17 million from Tencent in 2021, Cobler expressed that their continued growth has negated the need for additional funding. The game has achieved notable recognition on Steam, reaching the 39th spot for concurrent user numbers.
“We’re really excited about that,” Cobler shared. “There’s a lot of hype in the community. We have a ton of videos being made, and we feel a significant amount of buzz happening around the game.”
Reflecting on their early days, Cobler recalled the challenges he faced six years ago when trying to connect with developers who often ignored their feedback. This drove him to recruit fellow enthusiasts on Reddit. Despite lacking funding and game development expertise, he managed to gather a talented team, starting with just eight members, to design their ideal game.
The team launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, setting an initial goal of $210,000 but ultimately raising $255,378 from 2,824 backers, which laid the foundation for the game’s development.
Last Epoch combines elements of time travel with both high and dark fantasy. Players navigate through various periods, starting in the ancient era, then progressing through a time of warring empires and into a dark future overrun by the undead, culminating in a devastating ruined era.
The update
Reflecting on its earlier versions, Cobler admitted that the game looked “terrible” at the time of the Kickstarter launch. Following the release of the 1.1 update, the team received substantial feedback from fans. Rather than rush another update, they carefully considered this input and extended the development time to implement meaningful changes. Approximately 267 days have passed since the last update, but Cobler is pleased with the results.
The new update showcases a redesigned crafting system, a comprehensive update to the Sentinel class, enhancements to the Monolith of Fate, the introduction of a new faction called the Weaver, and a fresh skill inspired by the iconic guided arrow from Diablo II.
The Weaver Faction Tree is a significant addition, enabling players to manipulate their monolith timelines during endgame play, which dramatically enhances the gameplay experience. It also introduces a new Echo type called Woven Echoes, providing insights into the Weaver’s design alongside valuable rewards.
A key feature returning players will appreciate is the Mastery Re-specialization, which now allows players to change their Mastery Specialization any time by visiting an in-game NPC, rather than being locked into their initial choice after reaching Level 20.
In response to player feedback, the Sentinel class has received a major overhaul, removing various limitations it had compared to the other classes. This adjustment improves the Sentinel’s mobility and defenses, as well as refining its Passive Trees, thereby enhancing overall gameplay balance.
Additionally, the update includes new challenges such as Champion Enemies and Champion Affixes, offering players a tougher adversary that may drop unique affixes on their items. Players can also explore new environments like tombs and cemeteries, and face formidable Endgame bosses, including an Uber Aberroth variant.
Throughout the development process, the studio worked to resolve server stability challenges to improve performance. The extensive patch notes reveal significant graphical enhancements alongside various quality-of-life improvements.
Since their initial investment from Tencent, the studio has not needed to seek further funding, maintaining momentum from the successful launch of version 1.0. The team aims for a seasonal release every four months, though the latest update took nine months to finalize.
Interestingly, the release of this update coincides with the seventh anniversary of their Kickstarter launch, which Cobler noted with pride.
Currently, Last Epoch is available in three editions: the Standard Edition for $35, the Deluxe Edition for $50, and the Ultimate Edition for $65.
“We’re all surprised by how far we have come,” Cobler remarked. “It’s a labor of love, and we intend to keep improving the game as long as we can, because it’s a project that means a lot to all of us.”
Source
venturebeat.com