last-epoch Inside the World of Last Epoch: The Devs Reveal Their Universe-Building Secrets!

[Jaym0 77]

Go behind the scenes of Last Epoch's world-building with Eleventh Hour Games. Learn how the RPG's story, enemies, and environments were designed.

Eleventh Hour Games has shared an in-depth look into the world-building process of Last Epoch, shedding light on how the universe of the action RPG was crafted. In their latest developer update, part of the "Making Last Epoch" series, Lead Writer Kyle Melberg delves into the interesting process of how the game was made, the narrative, and design. This offers players a rare glimpse into the creative decisions behind the immersive world.

The Foundation of World-Building

Melberg begins by making a difference between two core aspects of Last Epoch's development: World and Narrative vs World Design. While World and Narrative focus on the overall story, characters, factions, and historical events that shape the place, World Design is the process of translating these elements into a world that makes sense.

The team at Eleventh Hour Games wants to make sure that every location, enemy, and encounter in Last Epoch has a purpose tied to the greater lore. This approach helps players feel more connected to the universe rather than simply engaging in random battles.

Bringing the World to Life

The design process starts by answering key questions: Where is the player? What are they fighting? Why are they fighting? These fundamental questions shape the environments, quests, and enemies that we encounter throughout our journey.

One major example of this process in action is the creation of the Harbingers, terrifying enemies that plays an important role in the late-game experience. Originally, the Harbingers were created as powerful Void Knights, using player character models for efficiency. However, as time passed, the team realized that these enemies needed to be more than just reskinned versions of existing characters.

The Evolution of the Harbingers

To make the Harbingers a unique and impactful enemy in Last Epoch, the team re-made their lore and visual identity. Instead of just being a variant of the Void Knight class, the Harbingers were developed into their own distinct thing, with unique models, animations, and abilities. These changes not only enhanced their role in the game's narrative but also made encounters with them feel more meaningful and engaging for players.

By designing the Harbingers with specific gameplay mechanics in mind, the team made sure that they provide a new challenge rather than feeling like a recycled enemy type. 

A Glimpse into the Future

This developer insight into world-building highlights the dedication of Eleventh Hour Games for crafting a rich and believable universe. The team continues to work on details and expand the lore of Last Epoch, making sure that every piece of content feels like an extension of the game's world.

With Season 2's launch getting closer each day, we can expect new lore, enemies, quest, and locations, that will add to the existing world and make it even richer!

If you want to go read the complete deep dive from the developers, you can head to the official Forum post!