In a surprising revelation, Diablo 3 director Josh Mosqueira disclosed that Diablo 4 was initially conceptualized as a much more "punchier" action-adventure game featuring permadeath. This insight into the early development of Diablo 4 comes from a chapter excerpt in Jason Schreier's book, "Play Nice: The Rise and Fall of Blizzard Entertainment," as reported by WIRED.
Diablo 3 Director Wanted Diablo 4 To Be Something Entirely New
Roguelike Action-Adventure Diablo 4 Didn't Work Out Because of Several Complications
Instead of sticking to the traditional action-RPG roots of the Diablo series, Mosqueira envisioned Diablo 4 as a game that would borrow heavily from the Batman: Arkham series, integrating roguelike mechanics. The project, codenamed "Hades," involved a small team of artists and designers who worked on this unique concept. This version of Diablo 4 would have featured an over-the-shoulder camera, a departure from the series' isometric view, and more dynamic, action-packed combat reminiscent of Batman: Arkham. Most intriguingly, it would have included permadeath, meaning players would have to start over if their character died.
Despite the initial excitement and support from Blizzard executives, numerous challenges arose that prevented this vision from coming to fruition. The ambitious co-op multiplayer elements inspired by Batman: Arkham proved difficult to implement, leading to doubts about whether the game would still feel like a true Diablo experience. As designer Julian Love noted, "The controls are different, the rewards are different, the monsters are different, the heroes are different. But it’s dark, so it’s the same." Ultimately, the development team began to see the roguelike version of Diablo 4 as more of a new IP than a continuation of the Diablo franchise.
Fast forward to the present, Diablo 4 has recently released its first major expansion, "Vessel of Hatred." This expansion takes players to the dark realm of Nahantu in the year 1336, immersing them in the sinister plots of Mephisto, one of the Prime Evils, as he schemes against Sanctuary. For more details, you can read our review of the Diablo 4 DLC in the article linked below!
