Eleventh Hour Games has confirmed that Last Epoch’s next big update, the Orobyss expansion, will arrive in 2026 as a free download for current players but will introduce a new paid class type called Paradox Classes, a move that has driven an influx of negative Steam reviews and knocked the game’s recent rating down to Mixed. According to a roadmap post from CEO Judd Cobler, Orobyss will follow Seasons 4 and 5 and be rolled into an updated base game bundle for new buyers, while existing players receive the expansion at no extra cost. Cobler’s timeline positions Orobyss after two more seasons; with seasons running roughly four months apiece, that lines the expansion up for the latter half of 2026.
The controversial bit is how the studio plans to monetize additional content. Cobler describes Paradox Classes as “a fully alternate playable class built on systems that work differently from anything else in the game.” He also writes that “these classes will let us experiment in new and innovative ways.” Those direct words come from the studio’s post and are the clearest description so far of what players will get if they buy a Paradox Class. Community pushback was swift. Forum posts and social replies called the idea of paywalled classes a non-starter for many, with some users saying the change undermines trust after earlier promises that core content would remain free. Steam reviewers have been quick to register displeasure, moving Last Epoch’s recent reviews from Mostly Positive to Mixed in the days after the announcement.
Eleventh Hour Games has made the financial case for the change publicly. Cobler acknowledged that the game’s first three seasons “weren’t profitable” and that cosmetic sales alone have not been enough to cover ongoing development costs. The studio’s pitch is that paid Paradox Classes will let the team try systems that would otherwise be risky to include in the main roster. That rationale does not erase the balance risk players fear. There are recent examples in the industry where paid classes reshaped competitive balance or player expectations, and critics say paywalled options create pressure on design decisions. Some players also point to Eleventh Hour Games’ acquisition by Krafton earlier this year as a factor in their unease, a concern the studio has tried to address directly.
Cobler also weighed in on community worries about the Krafton acquisition and the publisher’s broader strategy, saying, “There has been a lot of discussion around Krafton’s recent comments about being ‘AI-first’ and what that might mean for EHG. To be clear, our development approach is not changing. We remain focused on building Last Epoch the same way we always have, with the same hands-on design philosophy.” The studio has previously pushed back on claims that the buyout would change their development process; that clarification was reiterated in the roadmap update.
Eleventh Hour Games is laying out a path to sustainable development, and paid Paradox Classes are part of that plan. Whether players accept paid classes or keep protesting on Steam and social channels will shape how the studio moves forward with balance, pricing, and future content choices.
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Last Epoch
Developed by Eleventh Hour Games
