Former Diablo and Diablo II developers are creating a new low-budget action RPG with ambitious goals. Their independent studio, Moon Beast Productions, founded by Phil Shenk, Peter Hu, and Erich Schaefer, secured $4.5 million in funding to develop an ARPG that aims to "transcend the genre's conventional design limitations." Given the team's experience with the highly successful original Diablo games, expectations are high.
The team, comprised of veterans from both Diablo I and II, intends to revitalize the hack-and-slash genre, focusing on creating a more open and dynamic experience. They aim to recapture the essence of the early Diablo games, a vision they've nurtured for over two decades.
While details remain scarce, the project's potential is undeniable, thanks to its exceptionally talented development team. However, success won't be guaranteed. The ARPG market is fiercely competitive, with established giants like Diablo IV (and its successful Vessel of Hatred expansion) boasting massive player bases. Furthermore, the recently released Path of Exile 2 achieved phenomenal success on Steam, reaching a peak concurrent player count exceeding 538,000, placing it among the platform's top 15 most played games. Breaking through this established competition will be a significant challenge for Moon Beast Productions.
