Diablo Veterans Reveal Darkhaven, a Dark Fantasy ARPG Built Around a Fully Persistent World

A group of veteran developers behind the original Diablo games have officially lifted the curtain on Darkhaven, a dark fantasy isometric action RPG coming to PC via Steam. The project is being developed by Moon Beast Productions, a new studio founded by industry heavyweights Philip Shenk, Peter Hu, and Erich Schaefer, all of whom previously worked on the Diablo franchise.

Darkhaven doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s confirmed to launch first in Early Access, with a Kickstarter campaign planned for the near future.

According to Moon Beast Productions, Darkhaven is designed as a deliberate return to the roots of the action RPG genre while also pushing it into unfamiliar territory. The game is set after the final collapse of civilization, in a world where ancient empires have crumbled and their ruins have been overtaken by monsters, wilderness, and supernatural threats. Players take on the role of powerful heirs, among the last capable of pushing back the eldritch forces feeding on what remains of the world.

Where Darkhaven separates itself from most modern ARPGs is its fully dynamic, procedurally generated, and persistent world. Terrain and structures can be reshaped in dramatic ways: players can dig through the ground, tunnel through dungeon walls, drain lakes to reveal hidden ruins, redirect lava flows during combat, or rebuild shattered fortresses. Seasons change, weather impacts traversal and combat, and large-scale events permanently alter the world, leaving visible scars that persist throughout a playthrough.

Moon Beast says every action contributes to a shared, evolving history, particularly in multiplayer-enabled realms. Darkhaven supports solo play, cooperative adventures, and PvP-enabled worlds, all within the same systemic framework.

Combat is built around more than just stat checks. Characters can jump, dash, climb, swim, and move freely, introducing a layer of mechanical skill rarely seen in isometric ARPGs. Positioning, timing, and terrain awareness play a major role in survival, shifting the genre away from purely numbers-driven encounters.

Itemization, meanwhile, draws heavy inspiration from Diablo and Diablo II. Rather than incremental stat bumps, Darkhaven focuses on bold, build-defining loot items that meaningfully change how a character plays instead of slightly optimizing existing setups.

Co-founder and chief creative officer Erich Schaefer said the team’s priority from the beginning was making Darkhaven feel good moment-to-moment. He emphasized movement as a core pillar, noting that jumping attacks, climbing cliffs, or escaping danger through the environment fundamentally changes how combat flows in an ARPG.

Moon Beast Productions president Peter Hu echoed that philosophy on itemization, explaining that powerful gear should inspire players to rethink their builds and strategies rather than fade into marginal percentage gains.

CEO Philip Shenk added that Darkhaven represents everything the team has learned over two decades of ARPG development, combined with modern technology. He described a world that remembers player actions, reflects victories and failures, and tells stories unique to each playthrough.

Darkhaven is now live on Steam, with Early Access planned as the next major step. More details including timing for the Kickstarter campaign are expected to be shared in the coming months.