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 from veteran developers has high 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 innovative ARPG. Their goal is to break free from established design conventions and revitalize the hack-and-slash experience. The team, boasting Diablo I and II alumni, aims to deliver a more open and dynamic ARPG experience, drawing inspiration from what made the early Diablo games so compelling after over two decades.
Details about the game remain scarce, but the involvement of highly experienced developers suggests a promising title. However, breaking into a crowded market dominated by high-quality ARPGs will be challenging. The recent success of Diablo IV's "Vessel of Hatred" expansion, for instance, highlights the established dominance of the franchise and the potential loyalty of its substantial player base.
The competitive landscape is further intensified by other popular ARPGs like Path of Exile 2, which enjoyed a phenomenal launch on Steam, reaching a peak concurrent player count exceeding 538,000 – placing it among the platform's top 15 highest peak player counts. This success underscores the stiff competition facing any new entrant in the genre.
