Former Diablo and Diablo II developers are creating a new, low-budget action RPG with the ambitious goal of revolutionizing the genre. Given the immense 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 innovative ARPG. Their stated aim is to "transcend the genre's established design conventions." This team of Diablo 1 and 2 alumni intends to reinvent the hack-and-slash experience, aiming for a more open and dynamic ARPG that harkens back to the defining elements of the early Diablo games – a vision they've held for over two decades.
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 already saturated with 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 Diablo franchise and the potential reluctance of its large fanbase to switch allegiances.
The competitive landscape is further intensified by the presence of other popular ARPGs, such as Path of Exile 2. The recent launch of Path of Exile 2 achieved remarkable success on Steam, boasting a peak concurrent player count exceeding 538,000—a testament to its popularity and a significant hurdle for any newcomer.
