ARPG Last Epoch has needed a new roadmap since its spectacular launch (server issues aside) back in February, and it's here at last.
A bit like Diablo 4 (but not nearly as bad), one of my few complaints about this title is the lack of endgame content. It's tough to compete with Path of Exile that's been adding sizeable expansions every 3-4 months for nearly a decade now, but from a player perspective, that hardly matters. Fortunately, boss content is coming next cycle (1.1) as you may have heard whispers about already, giving fans more opportunities to test the mettle of their builds. From the looks of the artwork, you can expect to square off against at least some kind of dragoon-type character, and a beefcake with a hammer that's probably compensating for something.
The other major addition in 1.1 is a dodge roll mechanic. It wouldn't be surprising if developer Eleventh Hour Games might be going this route after being inspired by Path of Exile 2 and seeing how much dynamism it adds to combat. It'll be interesting to see if they rework combat (particularly boss fights) and/or rebalance anything to accommodate it. Either way, I'm pumped to roll around the battlefield.
Beyond 1.1, there's a lot in store: endgame events and uniques (which seems to imply a two-headed dragon boss to farm), a new campaign chapter (yay, longer campaign... not), an expanded Monolith of Fate, Skill Sigils (which seem to resemble masteries familiar to Path of Exile players), and a transmog/dye system, among other things.
Most exciting in my mind are all the new bosses as well as Monolith of Fate expansion. Both are sure to excite fans new and old, as there are only so many monos you can grind before you want to put your head through the monitor.
Interestingly, the studio is considering delaying the release of bosses to modes other than Online, so as to preserve the spirit of competition for events. It's not hard to see why — games like Path of Exile regularly see players boot up their Standard character (which retains lifetime progress) and immediately shortcut to the new boss for 'practice' before trying it out for real, which is kind of a buzzkill for both competitors and spectators. The downside is well, competitors can't practice, but this will likely just mean they prepare better. It should be well worth it for the excitement, but just in case, Eleventh Hour is hosting a survey to see how the community feels (bless their hearts).
Last Epoch debuted to a whopping 264,708 players when it first released, and that was amidst server issues (the offline mode certainly came in handy). It's since dropped hard down to about 7,000, no doubt in part to the release of new content on the part of its competitors, but also the aforementioned lack of endgame to keep players hooked. It'll certainly be fun to see how high the numbers get with each subsequent expansion, and if it can keep up with some compelling updates on the Diablo and Path of Exile fronts.
Want more Last Epoch content? Check out All blessings and where to get them in Last Epoch here on Pro Game Guides.
Published: May 7, 2024 12:09 pm