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Darkhaven is a new action-RPG from a studio founded by longtime Diablo developers that aims to recapture the feel of early Diablo while taking a few wild swings of its own. The team says the game will move away from slow, incremental power creep in favor of striking, character-defining items and combat built around a volatile, changeable world. Early talk also includes unusually ambitious environmental ideas — yes, that includes weaponized volcanos.

  • Founding team: the studio includes Diablo-era veterans Philip Shenk (lead character artist on Diablo II), Peter Hu (programmer/designer/lead on Diablo II), and Erich Schaefer (original Diablo senior designer, art director and writer).
  • Design focus: instead of a long grind of tiny stat increases, Darkhaven aims for bold, expressive loot that changes how characters look and fight in noticeable ways.
  • Dynamic environments: levels will feature destructible terrain and emergent hazards, letting the battlefield itself be manipulated — developers have even discussed using volcanic activity as a gameplay element.
  • Old-school inspiration, new-school goals: the game wears its Diablo II influences openly but promises modern systems and a willingness to experiment with environment-driven tactics and spectacle.
Source: Rock Paper Shotgun