Former Diablo 3 dev regrets pushing back against more complex skill system that "would have been probably better than what we have today" for ARPG veterans

GamesAction RpgFormer Diablo 3 dev regrets pushing back against more complex skill system that “would have been probably better than what we have today” for ARPG veteransWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesAction RpgFormer Diablo 3 dev regrets pushing back against more complex skill system that “would have been probably better than what we have today” for ARPG veteransWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Blizzard) Diablo 3 may no longer be the newest ARPG on the block, but that doesn’t mean that its fans and developers are done thinking about it. One of its former developers has been discussing the key design decisions that went into it, in fact, and comparing it to 11th Hour Games' Last Epoch, whichlaunched to immediate success back in February, with players quick to point out the similarities between it and the Diablo series. This comes from Andrew Chambers, who served as a system designer for the 2012 ARPG. In a new video shared onYouTube, the designer discusses more about the key design decisions behind Diablo 3 that set it apart from Last Epoch, for better or worse. One of these was the choice to keep Diablo 3’s skill system more approachable, rather than making it complex like Last Epoch’s – something which Chambers believes, in retrospect, would have been better for veteran Diablo fans. “Fundamentally, overarching everything, we wanted to aim at a broader audience than just Diablo,” he explains. “We didn’t just wanna capture the Diablo audience – we wanted to expand upon it. The best way to do that is to create systems that are much more approachable, which usually means trade-offs in that complexity. This wasn’t for a lack of trying, I remember the team who was focused on the skill system went back and forth – I think they built out 12 different full iterations on the skill system.” According to Chambers, one of these scrapped systems would have involved players searching out “runes” that would slot into skills to add different properties, with varying affixes and levels, bringing with it an “endless chase game” for players to upgrade their skills. “The great irony is I argued hard against that idea. I was like, ‘This is way too complicated; people are just going to try and figure out the best solution; they’re going to end up with this inventory nightmare; it’s not something we can really expect our audience to do.’ I regret that, really. I do think that that skill system would have been probably better than what we have today, at least for the more ‘pure’ Diablo audience,” he continues. “But I am happy with the skill system that we have. Again, it broadens the audience, it brings more people into the possibility space of playing and exploring action role-playing games.” In the video, Chambers also speaks a lot about Diablo 3’s controversial Auction House, and highlighted Last Epoch’s trading system as a glowing example of one that’s “super robust.” He also believes that “most action role-playing games should be looking at Last Epoch’s trading system solution and asking themselves, ‘Wow, what can we learn from this? How can we pull from this to make ours better?’ Because I really think that they nail it.” Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more Ultimately, these are just two factors that contribute to Chambers' overall belief that Blizzard “never could have made a game like Last Epoch.” With that said, there’s still plenty that he thinks Diablo 3 did better overall, such as its pacing and interesting enemies, so there’s still loads for the team to be proud of. Diablo 4’s Season 4 PTR patch notes launched late last month, andthey’re enormous. CATEGORIESXbox Series XPS5PC GamingPlatformsXboxPlayStation CATEGORIES PRODUCTSDiablo IIILast Epoch PRODUCTS More about action rpgHow Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC got me through my darkest daysPutting beta feedback into action, Monster Hunter Wilds devs show off improved hitstop and reworked weapons that feel how you remember themLatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest► More about action rpgHow Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC got me through my darkest daysPutting beta feedback into action, Monster Hunter Wilds devs show off improved hitstop and reworked weapons that feel how you remember themLatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest► More about action rpgHow Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC got me through my darkest daysPutting beta feedback into action, 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the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”