Last Epoch Devs Face Backlash Over Paid DLC Class

Action RPG Last Epoch is currently experiencing a significant backlash from its player base following the announcement of a new class that will be released as paid downloadable content. This decision has led to a surge of negative reviews on Steam, with many players expressing disappointment and urging others to consider alternative games.

Player Uproar Over Monetization Strategy

The developers of Last Epoch, Eleventh Hour Games, revealed that the upcoming Vengeance update will introduce a new playable class, the Rogue Advanced Class, which will be a paid DLC. This move has been met with considerable criticism, as players perceived the game, which launched out of early access in February 2024, as a complete experience. The announcement has shifted the sentiment among a vocal portion of the community, leading to a significant drop in the game’s Steam review score.

Key Takeaways:

• Last Epoch players are protesting the announcement of a new, paid DLC class.
• This has resulted in a wave of negative Steam reviews, impacting the game’s overall score.
• Many players feel this monetization strategy contradicts the perceived value proposition of the base game.
• Alternative games like Path of Exile and Grim Dawn are being recommended as a response.

Community Sentiment Shifts Dramatically

The influx of negative reviews has sent a clear message to the developers. Many players argue that introducing paid classes after the game’s full launch sets a concerning precedent for future monetization. The common sentiment is that while players are willing to support a game they enjoy, they expected all core gameplay additions to be part of the initial purchase or free updates, with paid content typically being cosmetic or substantial expansions rather than individual classes.

The debate has spilled into community forums and social media, with comparisons drawn to other popular ARPGs. Some players pointed to games like Path of Exile, which offers extensive free content and monetizes primarily through cosmetics and stash tabs, as a benchmark for player-friendly monetization in the genre. Others suggested titles like Grim Dawn, which has historically offered paid expansions that include significant content, as a model that players might have been more receptive to.

Editor’s Take: A Risky Monetization Gamble

This situation highlights a critical tension in the live-service gaming model: how to fund ongoing development without alienating the player base. While Eleventh Hour Games likely intends for this paid class to fund future content and support, the execution has clearly missed the mark with a significant portion of their community. The timing, so soon after a full launch, feels particularly aggressive and may signal a shift in their approach that players were not prepared for.

For developers, understanding player expectations is paramount. In the ARPG space, where games like Path of Exile have set a high bar for free-to-play or expansion-based content, introducing individual paid classes can be perceived as nickel-and-diming. This backlash, while potentially damaging in the short term, could serve as a valuable lesson for Eleventh Hour Games on how to better align their monetization strategies with community sentiment moving forward.