Former Diablo and Diablo II developers are creating a new, low-budget action RPG with the potential to redefine the genre. Given the success of the original Diablo games, this new ARPG, developed by veterans of both titles, has a strong chance of becoming a hit.
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. The team aims to break free from established genre conventions, creating a more open and dynamic experience. Their goal, after over 20 years in the industry, is to recapture the essence of the original Diablo games.
While details about the game remain scarce, the involvement of such experienced developers suggests it could be a top-tier action RPG. However, breaking into a saturated market dominated by high-quality titles will be challenging. Diablo IV's recent expansion, "Vessel of Hatred," was incredibly successful, and its large, loyal fanbase might be reluctant to switch games.
The competition is fierce, with other popular ARPGs like Path of Exile 2 also vying for players' attention. Path of Exile 2's recent Steam launch was a resounding success, achieving a peak player count exceeding 538,000, ranking it among the platform's top 15 most played games.