Diablo Franchise Head Faces Backlash Over Suggestion to Rename ARPGs 'Diablo-Likes'
Rod Fergusson's proposal to rebrand games following the Diablo formula as 'Diablo-likes' has drawn criticism and skepticism from the gaming community.
- Rod Fergusson, general manager of the Diablo series at Blizzard, suggested labeling ARPGs similar to Diablo as 'Diablo-likes' in a tweet.
- The proposal compared the term to existing genre labels like 'Souls-like' and 'Rogue-like' but was met with significant backlash online.
- Critics argued that the term implies Diablo's dominance and quality in the genre, which some feel is no longer deserved, particularly after mixed reception to Diablo 4.
- The timing of the tweet, shortly after Path of Exile 2's Early Access reveal, led to speculation that it could have been prompted by the attention on Diablo's competitor.
- Despite the criticism, the Diablo franchise's historical influence on ARPGs is widely acknowledged, though many feel the naming suggestion was unnecessary and self-serving.
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