Developer Eleventh Hour Games has recently integrated a cash shop into the action RPG Last Epoch. Although the game itself has so far been considered a buy-to-play title, Eleventh Hour Games now wants to support the estimated price through a shop for cosmetic items. The developer went too far, realized it hours later, and is now backtracking.
Why is there a shop? According to developer Eleventh Hour Games (via forum.lastepoch.com), they managed to develop a great ARPG with Last Epoch that the community can enjoy for at least a decade. The plan is for additional content to be released multiple times a year.
This, however, also costs money and can run into the millions. Which content is now in the starting blocks for the game can be found here.
Similar to the action RPG Path of Exile, the developer believes that they can only financially support this development with a shop, without putting obstacles in the way of the players. It is purely a cosmetic shop (via forum.lastepoch.com). This way, they escape the pay-to-win debate that often arises in connection with MMORPGs.
In the following video, we show you a trailer for Last Epoch.
How did the change in the shop come about? Users initially found an item shop for cosmetic items perfectly acceptable, assuming it would benefit the development of the title. However, negative comments piled up in the in-house forum, deeming the prices for some items absurd. For example, one can read the following (via forum.lastepoch.com):
- User MATTY_CRAIG:
Wow! $18.99 for a teleport skin?
- User XOLAK:
I look forward to the cosmetics, but as others have pointed out, I’ll repeat: Prices seem very high; the pricing and the exchange rate from real money to points is strange
What exactly was the problem? User Nevieth goes a step further and explains that it is indeed a buy-to-play title and thus he feels the pricing is excessive. He also criticizes the fact that individual items are only available for a short time, creating fear among users of possibly missing out on them forever if they don’t purchase (via forum.lastepoch.com).
Additionally, the user points out a small but important detail. For the price of $18.99, they are offered a total of 265 points, although it states there are 240 points + 25 bonus points. In his opinion, this bonus is non-existent (via forum.lastepoch.com).
The 265 points were already advertised at the start of the shop with a price of $18.99. Since the shop did not exist beforehand, the developer could not have had the opportunity to establish a price initially to then offer discounts (via forum.lastepoch.com).
Last Epoch: Changes in the item shop came within 24 hours
What has changed in the shop? First of all, the developer Eleventh Hour Games thanked the players for the feedback and responded with changes within 24 hours. The following changes will be addressed immediately (via forum.lastepoch.com):
- The exchange rate from dollars to Epoch points will be changed. You now get 10 Epoch points for one dollar.
- Price reductions will be implemented. For example, a portal will now cost only $10 instead of $20.
- We will remove the bonus system when purchasing Epoch points. We will adjust the packages of Epoch points according to the items in the shop.
This way, the makers of Last Epoch seem to have listened to player feedback within 24 hours.
How are fans reacting to the change? Many users express their excitement, both about the speed and the change itself. In the Last Epoch forum, there are comments like (via forum.lastepoch.com):
- User Ablazen:
Really well done, will buy more, thanks
- User MoistWater:
Damn, cool, I’m even willing to support the game more now LMAO
- User Puppo:
I will definitely buy more now.
Such voices and others in the forum suggest that quick support and taking feedback into account could ultimately pay off more for the developer than initially planned.
What do you think about the behavior of developer Eleventh Hour Games? Should other game companies, like Grinding Gear Games or Blizzard, take a page from this? Let us know in the comments.
