Diablo 4: From Batman Arkham Roguelite to Final Release

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Diablo 4 Was Initially Designed as a “Punchier” Action-Adventure Game with Permadeath Mechanics

As revealed by Diablo 3 director Josh Mosqueira, Diablo 4 originally had a completely different design direction. Instead of the traditional action-RPG format known to the franchise, early development leaned toward a more dynamic, roguelike experience inspired by titles like Batman: Arkham.

Diablo 4 Almost Became a Totally New Kind of Diablo Game

Josh Mosqueira, former director of Diablo 3, wanted to take the Diablo series in a bold new direction. Rather than continuing with the established formula, he proposed a fresh vision that would have redefined what Diablo could be.

According to excerpts from Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier’s book “Play Nice: The Rise and Fall of Blizzard Entertainment”—shared recently via WIRED—key members of the Diablo team discussed the transition period between Diablo 3 and Diablo 4. Following Diablo 3's mixed reception, Mosqueira aimed to break away from convention and craft something innovative within the Diablo universe.

The initial concept was internally codenamed "Hades", with a small group of artists and designers collaborating on this experimental version of Diablo 4. This prototype featured a third-person over-the-shoulder camera perspective rather than the classic isometric view. Combat was envisioned to be fast-paced and more responsive, drawing comparisons to the fluid mechanics seen in Batman: Arkham games.

One of the most striking elements was the inclusion of permadeath mechanics—if your character died, they were gone for good. This added a layer of risk and challenge not typically associated with the Diablo series.

Despite having support from Blizzard executives to explore a radically different Diablo title, several complications ultimately prevented this version from becoming reality.

Project Hades faced numerous challenges, particularly around the ambitious multiplayer co-op system designed to mirror the teamwork mechanics found in action-adventure titles like Arkham. Team members began questioning whether the game still fit under the Diablo brand. Designer Julian Love famously remarked, "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."

Over time, many at Blizzard came to believe that this roguelike iteration of Diablo 4 was essentially shaping up to be a completely new intellectual property—one that no longer resembled the core identity of Diablo.

Diablo 4 Expansion: Vessel of Hatred

Fast forward to today, and Diablo 4 has launched its first major expansion DLC titled Vessel of Hatred. This content update transports players into the eerie and mystical land of Nahantu, set in the year 1336. The story dives deep into the sinister machinations of Mephisto, one of the Prime Evils, and his elaborate plans to corrupt Sanctuary.

For a detailed breakdown of what the Vessel of Hatred DLC brings to the table, check out our full review linked below.