New ARPG from Former Diablo Devs

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 veterans of both titles 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 ARPG. Their goal is to break away 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, harkening back to the defining elements of the early Diablo games after more than two decades in the industry.

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

Further complicating matters is the popularity of other prominent titles like Path of Exile 2. Its recent launch on Steam was a resounding success, achieving a peak player count exceeding 538,000, ranking it among the platform's top 15 highest peak player counts. This highlights the intense competition in the ARPG market.