Amid a legal battle with the developers of its upcoming title “Subnautica 2,” South Korean-based video game publisher Krafton has announced a deal to acquire studio Eleventh Hour Games, the creators of “Last Epoch.”
Per a press release issued by the companies Friday, the deal is valued at $96 million.
Founded in 2018, launched action RPG “Last Epoch,” which has since sold over three million copies worldwide. Through this acquisition, Krafton says it “aims to secure a competitive franchise IP in the Action RPG genre and further strengthen its position in the global market.”
As a result of the deal, EHG will be able to scale development on the “Last Epoch” franchise “across console platforms and expand seasonal content pipelines, setting the stage for long-term franchise development.”
Krafton says EHG will “retain full leadership and creative autonomy” while the publisher “will support EHG’s live service roadmap, team expansion, and international publishing.”
“Joining KRAFTON is a dream come true for Eleventh Hour Games,” Eleventh Hour Games CEO Judd Cobler said. “Their deep-rooted passion for ARPGs aligns perfectly with our mission. With KRAFTON’s support, EHG is poised to elevate the Last Epoch franchise to even greater heights. As a studio built from players of the genre, we couldn’t be more excited for its future.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Eleventh Hour Games into the KRAFTON family,” Krafton head of corporate development Maria Park said. “The team’s commitment to the ARPG community and innovative approach to game development resonated strongly with our values. Their rise from a grassroots studio to a globally renowned ARPG developer is nothing short of remarkable. We believe this acquisition lays the groundwork for diversifying KRAFTON’s genre portfolio and expanding distinctive franchise IPs. This acquisition also reaffirms our unwavering passion for great games and the teams that build them. We will always stand behind developers who put players first.”