Last Epoch Dev Now Under Krafton’s Wing in $95M Acquisition

PUBG and Last Epoch (Image Credit: Krafton/11 Hour Games)

Krafton, the South Korean studio best known for PUBG and inZoi, has officially acquired North American developer Eleventh Hour Games for around 132.4 billion won ($95.97 million).

The acquisition gives Krafton full ownership of the studio behind the critically acclaimed action RPG Last Epoch, which has sold over 3 million copies globally since its full release in early 2024.

Founded in 2018, Eleventh Hour Games started as a passion project driven by founder Judd Cobler and a small group of ARPG enthusiasts. Over time, the studio scaled into a 100+ person operation and successfully launched Last Epoch, a title that has quickly become a fan favorite in the genre.

According to Cobler, this partnership with Krafton will give the team the resources and backing it needs to push the franchise even further, including plans to expand onto console platforms and develop long-term live services.

Krafton stated that it will support Eleventh Hour Games through global publishing and operational infrastructure, and the studio’s current leadership and creative independence will remain intact.

As per Krafton’s Corporate Development Head, Park Hye-ri, the acquisition was driven by Eleventh Hour Games’ “outstanding development capabilities” and aligns with Krafton’s goal to expand its IP lineup while exploring genre diversification. The ARPG market, historically dominated by titles like Diablo, has seen a resurgence in recent years, giving Last Epoch a strong runway for growth.

The Last Epoch community seems pretty excited too. In an open letter, Cobler thanked fans for supporting the journey so far and hinted at big things ahead. The studio is preparing to hire more talent and continues to build out its roadmap, starting with Season 3: Beneath Ancient Skies on August 21, and Season 4 is set to drop roughly four months after.

This acquisition is just one part of Krafton’s larger expansion strategy. In 2024 alone, the company invested in more than a dozen studios, including high-profile names like Tango Gameworks (Hi-Fi Rush), Over the Moon Studios, Day 4 Night Studios, and Wolf Haus Games.

This year, Krafton also poured money into Nautilus Mobile (makers of Real Cricket), several Indian studios via the KIGI accelerator program, and other game-related ventures through partnerships with JetSynthesys and more.

With financial momentum behind it—Krafton posted ₩2.1 trillion ($1.4 billion) in revenue in 2024—and a growing interest in tech-enabled development, including AI-powered NPCs and cross-platform tools, the company seems well-positioned for long-term expansion.