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[BennyBlanco]

Diablo veterans announce dark fantasy isometric action RPG Darkhaven for PC

Moon Beast Productions, a studio founded by Diablo veterans Philip Shenk, Peter Hu, and Erich Schaefer, has announced Darkhaven, a dark fantasy isometric action RPG that “returns to the genre…

www.gematsu.com

Moon Beast Productions, a studio founded by Diablo veterans Philip Shenk, Peter Hu, and Erich Schaefer, has announced Darkhaven, a dark fantasy isometric actionRPG that "returns to the genre's roots while pushing it forward with a fully dynamic, persistent world." It will be available for PCvia Steam. A release date was not announced, but it will launch first in Early Access. A Kickstarter campaign is coming soon.

Moon Beast Productions co-founder and CEO Philip Shenk said, "We're incredibly excited to finally reveal Darkhaven and open its Steam page. This project represents everything we've learned about ARPGs over the last two decades, and what becomes possible when those ideas are combined with modern technology. We're building a world that remembers what you've done, bears the scars of your victories and failures, and tells stories that only your playthrough can create. With the community's support, we're ready to bring Darkhaven to Early Access, which will allow us to continue to build the game into the incredible experience we all want it to be."

Love that ARPGs are so fucking back.

 

[Wilhelm_85]

Insta-wishlisted. Hope it turns out good!

 

[Shubh_C63]

Totally Dynamic Worlds

The terrain in Darkhaven is fully deformable. You can dig into the earth to harvest resources, discover hidden caves, tunnel through dungeon walls, or rebuild ruined fortresses. Drain lakes to uncover sunken ruins or redirect flows of lava to form an impassable moat. You can also build. Raise the earth to create islands, fortify defensive positions, and construct everything from bridges to entire settlements.

Ok that's interesting. Definitely following this.

 

[Puscifer]

Kickstarter huh? See you in 5 years.

 

[Sgt.Asher]

I was cynical with that headline but that looked better than D4. Hopefully it doesn't end up like most "from the ex-devs of whatever" projects do.

 

[Plague Doctor]

I like the environmental destruction and different traversal options.

Wishlisted.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Kickstarter huh? See you in 5 years.

Sounds like early access isn't too far off.

 

[cormack12]

Ex-devs games are not doing so hot right now

 

[Puscifer]

Sounds like early access isn't too far off.

Maybe but the end of the trailer mentioned "Coming soon to Kickstarter" and that usually tells me all we saw was a vertical slice.

 

[TintoConCasera]

The traversal looks very fun! Not a big fan of the Minecraft-esque world all made of cubes but it could be cool.

I'll keep an eye on this one, thanks OP.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Ex-devs games are not doing so hot right now

I have more faith in ex blizzard devs than i do current blizzard devs.

 

[Fbh]

The terrain destruction and deformation looks cool.

But yeah I always take these "ex devs from known studio make a kickstarter" projects with a grain of salt.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

From ex-devs...

And

Too much purple.


It's a nope, till proven wrong.

 

[Kacho]

Looks really bad.

I'm over the "ex devs of that game you liked 30 years ago" selling point. It rarely works out.

 

[Mikado]

I was going to upload an image of the character creator but apparently the image provider neogaf is using refuses to upload it unless I scribble all over it.

Which means the devs are on the right track; so they have my support!

 

[Kagoshima_Luke]

 

[Lorianus]

"Washed up folks who have not released anything of note in 20 years are doing X"

What happened to all the projects of ex obsidian, ex bioware, ex whatever over the years?, thing is code monkey's trying to run a studio without experienced executives always fail on the corpo side of things.

 

[ADiTAR]

Good trailer. Showcases gameplay, why it's different in the genre, and doesn't have that boom boom trailer music.

 

[Ishma3L]

Let's make the game there is already a better version of?

 

[corgiix3]

I feel like No rest for the wicked has officially destroyed this entire genre. I cant imagine going back to these diablo style games but that's just me

 

[Sand Dan Glokta]

"procedurally generated worlds"

This is a red flag.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Let's make the game there is already a better version of?

which ARPG has jumping and climbing and allows you to explore and actual open world?

legit asking, if there's one I'd love to check it out.

 

[Sticks]

Exdevs here to save the day

 

[dorkimoe]

in. but that jumping looks ridiculous

 

[SHAKEZ]

I'm a simple man, no classes, no buy.

 

[BbMajor7th]

"We were tired of making the same games over and over again, so we struck out on our own. Now we're making a brand new game, which is just like the games we used to make, only without the massive financial backing. Please give us money to make it."

 

[diffusionx]

I've seen this movie before

 

[The Cockatrice]

Ex-devs games are not doing so hot right now

2026 and people still use this garbage marketing tactic. Anyone falling for it deserves the shit they get. As for what Im seeing, looks rough af. Pass.

 

[BennyBlanco]

I feel like No rest for the wicked has officially destroyed this entire genre. I cant imagine going back to these diablo style games but that's just me

I like NRFW but PoE2 shits all over it imo. I'm just happy the genre is thriving now.

 

[WaterOnix]

I like the seemingly smooth character movement and the destruction is a cool idea for an ARPG. Procgen does nothing for me, if anything it's a negative. But I like Diablo and Torchlight so I'll gladly keep an eye on it. Also cool that they're emphasizing good itemization being a focus

 

[Puscifer]

"procedurally generated worlds"

This is a red flag.

This was Diablo 1 and 2....

 

[_Ex_]

 

[TintoConCasera]

So the runes you equip get attached to the body as tatoos? that's a neat detail

 

[phant0m]

Looks really bad.

I'm over the "ex devs of that game you liked 30 years ago" selling point. It rarely works out.

Yeah this line has generally not panned out

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

Looks really bad.

I'm over the "ex devs of that game you liked 30 years ago" selling point. It rarely works out.

Especially ex-Blizzard, even the old guard. For whatever reason, those credentials tend to end in disaster.

 

[phant0m]

I feel like No rest for the wicked has officially destroyed this entire genre. I cant imagine going back to these diablo style games but that's just me

How so?

Genuinely curious what it offers above PoE 2 from a buildcrat perspective or the presentation of D IV? As I understand it they JUST launched the multiplayer/co-op function….

 

[vindafarna]

It looks interesting, but I agree with the remark that games by ex-Blizzard devs have generally been disappointing.

 

[BennyBlanco]

This was Diablo 1 and 2....

And PoE 1/2 and Grim Dawn and Titan Quest

 

[The_hunter]

Diablo Banannza.

 

[Lootlord]

Looks early as fuck tbh.
I like procedural generation and the destruction but so far i can't see how this adds to the gameplay.

 

[GymWolf]

Love the genre and the destruction but combat look weightless, i know not every game can be no rest for the wicked but this is like on the opposite spectrum entirely.

 

[Hudo]

How many fucking ex-Blizzard devs are there?

 

[Lokaum D+]

"ex-Blizzard devs"

if i red this on a magazine on the 90s or early 2000s i would be like

but, since is 2026, my reaction is more like this

 

[amigastar]

I just hope the itemization is fun actually. The music takes me back it sounds like Diablo tristram theme

 

[Mikado]

but, since is 2026, my reaction is more like this

I'd say ~ for the time being ~ let them cook.

 

[Moses85]

Kickstarter huh? See you in 5 years.

Or maybe

 

[Ishma3L]

which ARPG has jumping and climbing and allows you to explore and actual open world?

legit asking, if there's one I'd love to check it out.

Why does an ARPG need jumping and climbing? And what do you mean by "open world"? I'd consider Diablo IV's Sanctuary an "open world". Maybe I'm in the minority, but not sure "open worlds" make an ARPG better.... perhaps they even make it worse.


I can't imagine why they are "ex devs" and not current devs at Blizzard.


Hopefully a good game can prove me wrong.


Edit: No Rest for the Wicked has jumping and climbing in some capacity. It is also a far better game than whatever this currently is.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Why does an ARPG need jumping and climbing? And what do you mean by "open world"? I'd consider Diablo IV's Sanctuary an "open world". Maybe I'm in the minority, but not sure "open worlds" make an ARPG better.... perhaps they even make it worse..

Well you said a game like this already exists and it seems it's not the case. Sure there are tons of ARPGs but this one seems quite unique to me.

Now if those things make the game better or worse, that's another matter.

 

[Puscifer]

which ARPG has jumping and climbing and allows you to explore and actual open world?

legit asking, if there's one I'd love to check it out.

No rest for this wicked the closets and it's not even done yet.

 

[TintoConCasera]

No rest for this wicked the closets and it's not even done yet.

Thanks! Still need to check that one out. Is it out of EA already?