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While Path of Exile 2 and Diablo 4 currently dominate the ARPG space, with the latter game’s lead deeming similar games should be classed as “Diablo-likes”, industry veterans are reuniting to create an all-new entry in the genre.
Original Diablo lead designer Erich Schaefer and Diablo 2 lead programmer Peter Hu have joined forces alongside other ARPG alumni to form Moon Beast Productions. Following a round of seed funding, the studio is now officially looking to create a new ARPG franchise that learns from the developers’ past.
Ex-Diablo devs return to ARPG genre
Via a press release, Moon Beast Productions has successfully roped in a “network of angel investors”, including ex-Blizzard developer and popular live-streamer Cohh Carnage. Other investors include 1AM Gaming, 1UP Ventures, Overwold and more.
In the press release, Moon Beast Productions chief creative officer Erich Schaefer explained that the studio is hoping to create a new type of ARPG. Instead of static environments with hordes of mobs to slice and dice, the studio hopes to create “open, more dynamic” environments for players to battle through.
“We finally have the technological capabilities and decades of design experience to bring those visions to life. We’re going back to what made those early Diablo games feel so awesome but taking them in some cool, fresh directions,” the CCO explained.
Built for mods
Alongside the new focus, Moon Beast Productions’ new ARPG aims to create an ARPG designed for “user-generated” content on launch. This means that the game will support modding from the off, or at least be designed with it in mind.
The studio explains that the arrival of modding has resulted in massive successes, namely citing Warcraft 3’s popular DOTA mod.
“Our world technology is inherently dynamic, which makes it incredibly easy for players to create and integrate their own content,” explained Hu. “We’re building in-game tools that allow players to not just mod, but potentially create entirely new game modes using our robust, client-server ARPG systems.”
Moon Beast Productions has still not revealed its new ARPG, but it’s an exciting project. Alongside a new game from Age of Empires veterans, there is a new explosion of classic gaming alumni returning to their respective genres. Hell, even Peter Molyneux is back.
For more Diablo news, read about the series’ general manager’s thoughts on how fans turned the genre into a live-service platform, or read about the game’s Christmas event.
Diablo
Platform(s):
macOS, PC, PlayStation
Genre(s):
Action, RPG
