Blizzard's Canceled Diablo IV Prototype Revealed

Diablo IV's original concept featured a drastic shift to third-person action with permadeath, ultimately scrapped for a more traditional approach.

Blizzard initially envisioned Diablo IV as a game titled 'Hades,' featuring an over-the-shoulder camera and Arkham-style combat.
The prototype included roguelike elements, with permadeath as a core feature, significantly altering the series' traditional gameplay.
Director Josh Mosqueira led the early development but left Blizzard in 2016, leading to the cancellation of the Hades project.
Challenges in adapting the combat style for cooperative multiplayer contributed to the project's abandonment.
Diablo IV, as released, returned to its roots and achieved massive commercial success, earning over $1 billion in its first year.