Diablo 4: Initially a Batman Arkham-Style Roguelite

Diablo 4 was initially designed to be a more action-packed adventure with permadeath, as revealed by Josh Mosqueira, the director of Diablo 3.

Diablo 3 Director Envisioned a Revolutionary Diablo 4

Roguelike Action-Adventure Concept for Diablo 4 Faced Multiple Hurdles

Josh Mosqueira, the director behind Diablo 3, shared insights into an alternate vision for Diablo 4 that would have transformed the game into a Batman: Arkham-style action-adventure with roguelike elements. This intriguing concept was detailed in a chapter excerpt from Jason Schreier's book, "Play Nice: The Rise and Fall of Blizzard Entertainment," featured in a WIRED report. The narrative traces the journey from the challenges faced during Diablo 3's development to the ambitious plans for Diablo 4.

The project, codenamed "Hades," was in its early stages with a small team of artists and designers working alongside Mosqueira. This version of Diablo 4 was set to feature an over-the-shoulder camera, a departure from the series' traditional isometric view. The combat system was inspired by the Batman: Arkham series, aiming to be more dynamic and "punchier." A significant twist was the inclusion of permadeath, where a character's death would be permanent.

Despite the enthusiasm from Blizzard's executives for this experimental approach, several challenges emerged that prevented the roguelike Diablo 4 from coming to fruition. The ambitious co-op multiplayer elements reminiscent of the Arkham series proved difficult to implement. This led to internal questioning about the project's identity, with designer Julian Love reflecting, "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 felt that this version of Diablo 4 would have been more akin to a new intellectual property rather than a continuation of the Diablo series.

Diablo 4 has since moved forward with its first major expansion, "Vessel of Hatred." This expansion takes players to the dark realm of Nahantu in the year 1336, exploring the sinister machinations of Mephisto, one of the Prime Evils, and his plots against Sanctuary. For a detailed look at this expansion, check out our review linked below!