Former Diablo and Diablo II developers are creating a new, low-budget action RPG with the ambition to revolutionize the genre. Given the success of the original Diablo games, this new ARPG, developed by individuals involved in those iconic titles, has significant potential for greatness.
Phil Shenk, Peter Hu, and Erich Schaefer founded Moon Beast Productions, an independent studio. They secured $4.5 million in funding to develop a new ARPG that aims to "break free from established genre conventions." This team of Diablo I and II veterans intends to redefine the hack-and-slash experience, creating a more open and dynamic ARPG—a vision they've held for over two decades, aiming to recapture the essence of the original Diablo games.
While details about the game remain scarce, the involvement of such experienced developers suggests it could become 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, for instance, demonstrates the established player base and potential resistance to change.
The competition is fierce, with established giants like Path of Exile 2 also vying for attention. Path of Exile 2's recent Steam launch was incredibly successful, boasting a peak concurrent player count exceeding 538,000—placing it among the platform's top 15 most popular games. This underscores the significant hurdle Moon Beast Productions faces in making their mark.
