Ex-Diablo devs are working on a new ARPG to innovate the genre

Former Diablo and Diablo 2 developers are creating a new, low-budget action RPG with the ambitious goal of revolutionizing the genre. Given the success of the original Diablo games, this new ARPG, developed by 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, aiming to "break free from established design patterns." The team, comprised of Diablo 1 and 2 alumni, intends to reinvent the hack-and-slash experience. Their vision, cultivated over two decades, is to create a more open and dynamic ARPG, harkening back to the elements that defined the early Diablo games.

While details about the game remain scarce, the involvement of such experienced developers suggests a high likelihood of a top-tier action RPG. However, the ARPG market is fiercely competitive. The recent success of Diablo 4's "Vessel of Hatred" expansion, and the game's massive player base, presents a significant hurdle.

The challenge is further amplified by established competitors like Path of Exile 2, which recently enjoyed a phenomenal Steam launch, boasting a peak player count exceeding 538,000, placing it among the platform's top 15 most played games. Breaking into this saturated market will be a considerable undertaking.