Diablo 4: Roguelite Origins Revealed

Initially conceived as a drastically different game, Diablo IV's early development envisioned a "punchier," action-adventure title with permadeath mechanics, according to former Diablo III director Josh Mosqueira.

Diablo IV's Near-Miss: A Roguelike Action-Adventure

According to a Bloomberg report excerpt from Jason Schreier's book, Play Nice: The Rise and Fall of Blizzard Entertainment, Diablo IV's initial concept, codenamed "Hades," diverged significantly from the established action-RPG formula. Mosqueira, aiming to revitalize the franchise after the perceived shortcomings of Diablo III, spearheaded a vision that drew inspiration from the Batman: Arkham series. This iteration featured a third-person perspective, more dynamic combat, and a crucial roguelike element: permadeath.

This ambitious reimagining, developed by a smaller team, faced numerous hurdles. The complex implementation of co-op multiplayer within the Arkham-style framework proved challenging. Furthermore, fundamental design choices raised questions about the game's identity as a Diablo title. As designer Julian Love noted, while maintaining a dark tone, core gameplay elements deviated substantially from the established Diablo experience. Ultimately, the team concluded that "Hades" was effectively a new IP, not a Diablo game.

While Mosqueira initially had executive support for this bold departure, the accumulated development challenges ultimately led to the abandonment of the roguelike concept.

Diablo IV's recent launch of its first major expansion, Vessel of Hatred, offers a stark contrast to this unproduced vision. Set in 1336, the expansion delves into Mephisto's machinations within the ominous realm of Nahantu.