Diablo 4 Was a Batman Arkham-Style Roguelite Initially

Diablo 4's initial design, as revealed by former Diablo 3 director Josh Mosqueira, was a significant departure from the series' established formula. The vision was a more action-oriented, permadeath-focused experience.

Diablo 4's Unconventional Origins: 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 4’s development began with a radical concept. Instead of the familiar isometric action-RPG, Mosqueira envisioned a game akin to the Batman: Arkham series, incorporating roguelike elements.

Codenamed "Hades," this early iteration, spearheaded by Mosqueira with a select team, featured a third-person perspective, more dynamic combat, and, crucially, permadeath. The death of a character meant its permanent loss.

While Blizzard executives initially supported this bold experiment, several challenges ultimately led to its abandonment. The ambitious co-op multiplayer aspects proved particularly problematic, prompting questions about the game's core identity. As designer Julian Love noted, the project, while dark in tone, felt increasingly distinct from the established Diablo brand. Ultimately, the team concluded that "Hades" was essentially a new IP.

Diablo 4's recent launch of its first major expansion, Vessel of Hatred, takes players to the dark realm of Nahantu in 1336, exploring Mephisto's machinations. [Link to review of Diablo 4 DLC (if applicable)]