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 from veteran developers 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 aims to "transcend established genre conventions." This team of Diablo I and II alumni intends to revolutionize the hack-and-slash experience. Their vision, developed over two decades, is to craft a more open and dynamic ARPG, harkening back to the defining characteristics of the early Diablo titles.

Details about the game remain scarce, but the involvement of such experienced developers suggests a high likelihood of creating a top-tier action RPG. However, breaking into a market saturated with high-quality ARPGs will be a formidable challenge. The recent success of Diablo IV's "Vessel of Hatred" expansion, for instance, highlights the significant existing player base and potential resistance to change.

The competition is fierce, with established giants like Path of Exile 2 also vying for attention. Path of Exile 2's recent Steam launch was exceptionally successful, achieving a peak player count exceeding 538,000, ranking it among the platform's top 15 most played games. This underscores the competitive landscape the new ARPG will face.