Diablo Devs Innovate ARPG Genre with New

Former Diablo and Diablo II developers are creating a new, low-budget action RPG with the ambition to redefine the genre. Given the success of the original Diablo games, this new ARPG from veterans of both titles has significant potential.

Moon Beast Productions, an independent studio founded by Phil Shenk, Peter Hu, and Erich Schaefer, secured $4.5 million in funding to develop this ARPG. Their goal is to "transcend the genre's established conventions," reimagining the hack-and-slash experience. The team, comprised of Diablo I and II alumni, aims to deliver a more open and dynamic ARPG, drawing inspiration from what made the early Diablo games so distinctive after over 20 years in the industry.

Details about the game remain scarce, but the involvement of such experienced developers suggests a strong possibility of creating a top-tier action RPG. However, breaking into a crowded market filled with high-quality competitors will be challenging. The recent success of Diablo IV's "Vessel of Hatred" expansion, for instance, highlights the strong existing fanbase and potential resistance to switching games.

The competition is fierce, with established titles like Path of Exile 2 also vying for players' attention. Path of Exile 2's recent release achieved remarkable success on Steam, boasting a peak concurrent player count exceeding 538,000, placing it among the platform's top 15 most played games.