Ex-Diablo devs are working on a new ARPG to innovate the genre

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 aim is to break free from established genre conventions and deliver a more open and dynamic experience, drawing inspiration from what made the early Diablo games so unique—a goal they've pursued for over two decades.

While details about the game remain scarce, the involvement of such highly experienced developers suggests a strong possibility of creating a top-tier action RPG. However, the challenge is substantial. The ARPG market is fiercely competitive, with established giants like Diablo IV (and its successful Vessel of Hatred expansion) commanding a massive and loyal player base.

Further complicating matters is the recent triumph of Path of Exile 2, which achieved a peak concurrent player count of over 538,000 on Steam—ranking it among the platform's top 15 most popular games. This highlights the intense competition Moon Beast Productions faces in breaking into this crowded market.