Moon Beast Productions has officially launched the Kickstarter campaign for its next-generation action RPG, Darkhaven, alongside the release of an “unconventionally unfiltered” playable demo. Founded by Diablo veterans Philip Shenk, Peter Hu, and Erich Schaefer, the California-based studio is inviting players to experience a raw, ambitious slice of its evolving vision.
Since its reveal, Darkhaven has amassed over 140,000 wishlists, signaling strong interest from ARPG fans eager to see what the former Diablo developers are building next.
A Demo That Doesn’t Hide the Edges
Rather than delivering a tightly polished vertical slice, Moon Beast Productions opted to release what it describes as a pre-alpha sandbox experience. The demo offers several hours of open-ended gameplay set within a persistent world, giving players access to the Witch class up to level 8.
The Witch features three skill trees focused on mobility, positioning, and resource management, allowing players to experiment with early builds. According to Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Erich Schaefer, the goal is twofold: honor the addictive core of classic Diablo-style progression and itemization, while also pushing the genre forward through bold systemic changes.
A Fully Dynamic, Persistent World
Set in a dark fantasy world following the collapse of civilization, Darkhaven places players among the last inheritors of ancient power. As eldritch forces consume the remnants of fallen empires, players must reclaim and reshape the land itself.
Designed for solo play, cooperative adventures, and PvP-enabled realms, Darkhaven features a procedurally generated and fully persistent world. Terrain and structures are both deformable and buildable. Players can dig tunnels, carve through dungeon walls, drain lakes to uncover ruins, redirect lava flows, and rebuild shattered fortresses.
The environment reacts dynamically: seasons shift, weather impacts combat and traversal, and world-altering events leave permanent marks. Each action contributes to a shared, evolving history within the game’s sandbox.
Co-Founder and CEO Philip Shenk described the demo as a “love letter” to fans, an invitation to help shape Darkhaven’s future through Kickstarter support.
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