Veterans from Blizzard North, now part of MoonBeast Productions, are embarking on an exciting journey with their new action role-playing game, Darkhaven. This project aims to blend the rich legacy of Diablo II with the expansive, systemic freedom reminiscent of Minecraft, creating a unique gaming experience.
Innovative Gameplay Features
Phil Shenk, one of the key developers, emphasizes that while Darkhaven is not a direct sequel to Diablo II, it draws inspiration from ideas that have been discussed since the original game’s release, including its Lord of Destruction expansion. He stated,
“We don’t call it a sequel to Diablo II, but it’s largely inspired by what we were thinking about after Diablo II and Lord of Destruction.”
The world within Darkhaven is procedurally generated, evolving as players progress through the game. A significant feature is the “Necropolis,” a global event that gradually transforms the landscape into a realm dominated by the undead. Players will have the option to escape this haunting environment and venture into new worlds, each fraught with its own set of challenges, from volcanic eruptions to ice ages.
Dynamic Event System
Erich Schaefer, another prominent figure in the development team, elaborated on the game’s event system, which is designed to expand regularly. He remarked,
“We will be adding new events. I hope to release the game with several at once, and then continue to create new ones. They will be modularly integrated into your world, as it procedurally grows as you explore. Almost like in Minecraft, when they add a new biome — we can do the same with these events.”
In Darkhaven, players will engage in more than just battling hordes of monsters and assembling powerful builds. The game allows for an interactive environment where players can manipulate the terrain—destroying walls with spells, carving paths through mountains, and reshaping the landscape to gain tactical advantages. Schaefer shared his long-standing vision for this feature, stating,
“I told the team that this is the most difficult game in the world to develop. And it still is. But it seems we’ve finally overcome the most difficult stage.”
While the release date for Darkhaven remains under wraps, the project has already established a presence on Steam, where interested players can add it to their wishlist, eagerly anticipating the next chapter in action role-playing games.
