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 those 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 conventional action RPG design, aiming to revitalize the hack-and-slash experience. The team, comprised of Diablo I and II alumni, envisions a more open and dynamic ARPG, harkening back to the elements that made the early Diablo games so distinctive.

Details about the game remain scarce, but the involvement of such experienced developers suggests a high-quality product. However, breaking into a saturated market filled with acclaimed ARPGs will be challenging. The recent success of Diablo IV's "Vessel of Hatred" expansion, for example, highlights the significant competition and established player bases that a new title must overcome.

The challenge is further amplified by the presence of other popular contenders like Path of Exile 2. Path of Exile 2's recent Steam launch was exceptionally successful, achieving a peak player count exceeding 538,000, placing it among the platform's top 15 most played games. This demonstrates the intense competition in the ARPG market.