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

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, 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 an ARPG that aims to "transcend the genre's established conventions." This team of Diablo 1 and 2 alumni intends to revitalize the hack-and-slash experience. Their vision is a more open and dynamic ARPG, a goal they've pursued for over two decades, aiming to recapture the essence of the early Diablo games.

Details about the game remain scarce, but the involvement of such experienced developers suggests a high likelihood of creating a top-tier action RPG. However, breaking into a market saturated with high-quality ARPGs will be challenging. The recent success of Diablo IV's "Vessel of Hatred" expansion, and the game's substantial player base, presents a significant hurdle.

The competition is fierce, with established titles like Path of Exile 2 also vying for attention. Path of Exile 2's recent launch was exceptionally successful on Steam, boasting a peak concurrent player count exceeding 538,000, ranking it among the platform's top 15 most played games.