Last Epoch Fans Revolt as Paid Class Conflicts With Kickstarter Promise

Last Epoch is facing its strongest backlash to date after Eleventh Hour Games confirmed that future character classes will require paid DLC. The upcoming Orobyss expansion will remain free, but the new Paradox class will cost money. According to GameStar, this decision breaks the studio’s original Kickstarter promise. During the campaign, the developers stated that only cosmetic items would ever be sold. Many early supporters now see the announcement as a direct violation of that commitment. This created a strong sense of betrayal and damaged the trust that helped the game grow.

The frustration increased because the game still has many unresolved issues. Players point to bugs, missing tooltips and an incomplete story campaign. They argue that the developers should focus on stability before adding paid gameplay content. The timing of the decision made users feel that monetization had become a higher priority than polish or core improvements. For a game built on community support, this shift felt like a serious misstep.

Steam Reviews Collapse as Players Push Back

The reaction on Steam was immediate. As reported by PC Gamer, recent reviews dropped from “Very Positive” to “Mixed” within a short window. Many players left negative comments that criticized the paid class and the state of the game. Some encouraged others to return to Path of Exile. Others highlighted long-standing performance issues and missing features. They said that releasing a paid class while these problems remain sends the wrong message about the developers’ priorities. This review bomb spread across Reddit, Discord and social media, turning the issue into a wide debate about trust and direction.

Last Epoch once stood out as a more transparent and player-friendly alternative to other live-service ARPGs. The introduction of a paid class damaged that reputation quickly. Many fans now fear that the game is shifting toward a model that will add more paid advantages over time. The review collapse reflects that loss of confidence and the wider concern about the game’s future.

Krafton Acquisition Raises New Fears

The backlash gained more intensity because of Eleventh Hour Games’ recent acquisition by Krafton. According to GameStar, Krafton aims to push more aggressive monetization and stronger AI-driven development across its studios. Many Last Epoch players believe the paid class is an early sign of this shift. They worry that the acquisition will accelerate the move toward more monetized gameplay. Even without confirmed pressure from Krafton, the timing has created suspicion and a sense of unease across the community.

For many fans, the combination of a paid class and a new corporate owner feels like a turning point. It raises questions about long-term design goals and the commitment to fair monetization. This concern has echoed across forums and community channels, adding another layer to the growing frustration.

Players Divided on Whether the Decision Is Justified

Not every player agrees on how to interpret the situation. Some users believe the studio needs more revenue to support ongoing development. Reports from Infinite Start show that a portion of the community sees the paid class as a practical move. They argue that the team must support a live-service ARPG with stable funding. This group says that a paid class is less harmful than loot boxes or randomized boosts.

However, many others view the decision as a clear breach of trust. According to Icy Veins, players fear that once a studio breaks one promise, more changes will follow. They believe the paid class sets a dangerous precedent. These concerns reflect a deeper worry that future expansions may bring even more gameplay monetization.

What This Means for Last Epoch and the ARPG Space

The dispute around Last Epoch shows how fragile trust can be in live-service games. Fans want long-term content and stable updates, but they also expect clear limits on monetization. When a developer crosses a line that players see as non-negotiable, the reaction is immediate and intense. Eleventh Hour Games now faces a crucial period. The studio must explain its plans with clarity and address technical problems that players have reported for months. If they do not act soon, the current backlash may shape the game’s reputation for years.

For experienced ARPG fans, this moment highlights the growing tension between content production and fair business models. The outcome will depend on how the developers communicate, how they balance future content and how they treat the community that helped build Last Epoch from the start. The next steps will determine whether the game recovers or becomes an example of how fast goodwill can fade when trust breaks.