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 this ARPG. Their goal is to break free from established genre conventions and create a more open and dynamic experience, harkening back to the innovative elements of the early Diablo games. This team aims to revolutionize the hack-and-slash formula after over two decades in the industry.

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 already saturated with high-quality titles will be challenging. The recent success of Diablo IV's "Vessel of Hatred" expansion, and the game's massive fanbase, presents a significant hurdle.

The competition is fierce, with established giants like Path of Exile 2 also vying for players' attention. Path of Exile 2's recent launch on Steam was incredibly successful, boasting a peak concurrent player count exceeding 538,000, placing it among the platform's top 15 most played games. This highlights the intense competition in the ARPG market.