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 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 an ARPG that will "break free from established genre conventions." The team, comprised of Diablo I and II alumni, aims to revolutionize the hack-and-slash experience. Their vision is to create a more open and dynamic ARPG, a goal they've pursued for over two decades, while also "recapturing the essence of the original Diablo games."
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 crowded market already filled with high-quality ARPGs will be challenging. The recent success of Diablo IV's "Vessel of Hatred" expansion, for example, demonstrates the significant competition. The game's substantial player base presents a hurdle for attracting new players.
The challenge is further compounded by the presence of other popular ARPGs such as Path of Exile 2, which recently achieved remarkable success on Steam, boasting a peak concurrent player count exceeding 538,000—ranking it among the platform's top 15 most played games.
