Hubbry Logo
Blizzard NorthBlizzard NorthMain
Open search
Blizzard North
Community hub
Blizzard North
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Blizzard North
Blizzard North
Blizzard North
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Blizzard North (formerly known as Condor) was an American video game development studio based in San Mateo, California. The studio was the Bay Area division of Blizzard Entertainment, and it was known for the Diablo series. The company was originally based in Redwood City, California, always serving as the northern counterpart to Blizzard Entertainment's main development studio in Irvine, California. In 2005, Blizzard North was closed to reallocate its staff to the development of World of Warcraft.

Key Information

History

[edit]

Blizzard North was founded in 1993 under the name Condor by David Brevik, Erich Schaefer, and Max Schaefer. The three met while working at FM Waves, a clip art production studio. Upon the closure of FM Waves, the trio scavenged its equipment to create Brevik's concept of a dungeon crawler game based on Dungeons & Dragons with roguelike gameplay.[1][2] Brevik served as the president of the company between 1993 and 2003, while the Schaefer brothers held the Vice President positions.

The company was purchased and renamed as Blizzard North by Blizzard Entertainment's former owner Davidson & Associates about nine months before the release of their hit PC game Diablo in 1997.[3][4] However, Blizzard North had complete autonomy from Blizzard Entertainment while David Brevik and the Schaefer brothers continued to manage the company respectively as the President and Vice Presidents.[5] Diablo was highly successful, and its 2000 sequel Diablo II even more so. An expansion pack, Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, followed the year after.

Upon the 2001 completion of Diablo II and its expansion content, Blizzard North split its development staff between Diablo III and a Diablo-like game set in space, dubbed Starblo by the studio. In June 2003, Blizzard North executives Bill Roper, Max Schaefer, Erich Schaefer, and David Brevik emailed Blizzard Entertainment's then-parent company, Vivendi Games, threatening to resign unless provided financial protections and communication on Vivendi's intent to sell Blizzard. Vivendi accepted their resignations effective immediately, spurring them to found Flagship Studios and recruit similarly disgruntled Blizzard North employees.[1]

In August 2005, Blizzard Entertainment closed Blizzard North, claiming that its headquarters in Irvine, California, was struggling to supervise this secondary studio's troubled development of Diablo III.[6] Blizzard North employees were offered the chance to interview for positions in Southern California supporting the development of World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, the first expansion to the company's MMORPG, whose success had far outpaced the Diablo series in sales.[1]

Legacy

[edit]

A few employees from the Diablo team, including Eric Sexton, Michio Okamura, and Steven Woo, launched a new company, Hyboreal Games.[7]

Castaway Entertainment

[edit]

Castaway Entertainment was established by former employees of Blizzard North, and was also based in Redwood City, California. The company signed a publishing agreement with Electronic Arts in March 2004,[8][9][10] but had yet to produce any products for that publisher when it was shut down in 2008.[11]

Former Blizzard North members who joined the studio include Michael Scandizzo, Stefan Scandizzo, Alan Ackerman, Steven Woo, Rick Seis,[12] Ted Bisson, Bruno Bowden, Peter Brevik, Michael Huang, Kelly Johnson (artist), Michio Okamura, Tom Ricket (also known as Sluggy Freelance's Shirt Guy Tom), and Fredrick Vaught (after whom the Halls of Vaught in Diablo II were named).

Other notable employees include game designer Bill Dunn and art director Rick Macaraeg.

On April 4, 2008, Michael Scandizzo announced that Castaway was suspending operations due to financial problems.[13][14]

Moon Beast Productions

[edit]

Several key members of Condor / Blizzard North, founded Moon Beast Productions in 2021 as an independent game development studio. The team at Moon Beast Productions includes key Blizzard North founders[15][16] and staff members, Erich Schaefer, Peter Hu (considered the primary architect of Diablo II LOD expansion)[17] and Phil Shenk (Shenk the Overseer in Diablo II was named for Phil).[18]

In December 2024 it was confirmed by several sources including VentureBeat[19] that Moon Beast had secured $4.5 million in seed funding from a group including 1AM Gaming, The Mini Fund, Overwolf, Versus Ventures Gaingels, Cohh Carnage, and Mark Pincus. At the time of this writing July 2025 the project is in Pre-Alpha development and has not released title.

Games

[edit]

As Condor

[edit]

As Blizzard North

[edit]

As Castaway Entertainment

[edit]

Cancelled

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Blizzard North

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Blizzard North was an American studio based in , renowned for creating the foundational entries in the Diablo series. Originally established in 1993 as Condor Games by brothers Max Schaefer and Erich Schaefer alongside programmer , the independent studio focused on innovative RPG mechanics and dark fantasy themes. In March 1996, amid financial struggles, Condor was acquired by (then under ) and rebranded as Blizzard North, allowing it to complete and release its flagship title Diablo in January 1997. Under Blizzard North's banner, the team expanded the Diablo franchise with in 2000, which introduced multiplayer elements, a sprawling campaign across diverse acts, and the innovative skill tree system, selling millions and cementing the studio's legacy in the . The studio followed this success with the Diablo II: Lord of Destruction expansion in 2001, adding the Amazon class, new runewords, and endgame challenges that extended the game's lifespan for years. Despite these achievements, Blizzard North encountered growing tensions with Blizzard Entertainment's southern division over creative direction, particularly during early prototyping, leading to key departures including the brothers and Brevik in 2003. By 2005, ongoing development delays and internal strife prompted to shutter Blizzard North on August 1, relocating surviving staff to its Irvine headquarters and integrating remaining projects into the main studio. This closure marked the end of an era for the Bay Area team, whose pioneering work on isometric action RPGs influenced countless titles, though alumni later founded studios like and , continuing to shape the genre as of 2025.

History

Formation as Condor Games

Blizzard North traces its origins to September 1993, when it was established in , as Games (also known as Condor Inc.) by programmers , Erich Schaefer, and Max Schaefer. The three founders, who had met while working at the small software firm FM Waves, possessed no prior professional experience in the but were driven by a shared enthusiasm for creating games. Operating as an independent entity focused solely on game development, Condor aimed to build innovative titles from the ground up in a nascent scene. The early team at was modest in scale, consisting of approximately 10-15 individuals who handled programming, art, and design across multiple roles. Key among the hires was Bill Roper, brought on in 1994 to manage business development and production, helping to navigate the studio's limited resources and external partnerships. This lean structure allowed for agile decision-making but also underscored the challenges of operating without established industry connections. Condor's first original project was Task Force, a 2D licensed from DC Comics and developed in collaboration with Sunsoft, with handling publishing duties. Released for the in August 1995 and the in October 1995, the title featured playable heroes like Superman, Batman, and battling Darkseid's forces in one-on-one matches inspired by the Street Fighter formula. While not a blockbuster, it achieved modest critical success—earning average scores around 70% in contemporary reviews for its solid controls and faithful character portrayals, though criticized for lacking depth and originality. This debut effort played a crucial role in building Condor's reputation within the action and sectors, demonstrating the team's capability to deliver licensed console titles on time. Initially self-funded through the founders' personal savings and modest advances from publishers, Condor grappled with severe financial pressures amid the volatile mid-1990s video game market, where independent studios often struggled to secure stable . Paychecks frequently bounced, and operations teetered on as development costs mounted without guaranteed revenue streams. These hardships highlighted the risks of independent game development during an era dominated by larger publishers.

Acquisition and Renaming to Blizzard North

In early 1996, , the parent company of based in , acquired , Inc., the independent game developer behind the initial Diablo project, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition agreement was signed on March 6, 1996, and completed in June 1996. The acquisition aimed to diversify Blizzard's portfolio, which had been focused on titles like , by internalizing the development of action role-playing games and securing Condor's ongoing work on Diablo, originally contracted in 1994. This move allowed Blizzard to expand its creative scope amid rapid growth in the PC gaming market. Following the acquisition, was renamed Blizzard North in 1996 to create a unified branding structure within the Blizzard family, distinguishing the studio from the original Irvine-based team, colloquially known as Blizzard South. The studio retained its headquarters in , preserving its regional talent pool and operational autonomy while integrating shared publishing and distribution resources from . However, cultural contrasts emerged between the two divisions: Blizzard North's more relaxed, creative Bay Area vibe clashed with Blizzard South's disciplined, deadline-driven approach, leading to occasional tensions in collaboration. Under the new structure, Blizzard North shifted priorities from Condor's prior fighting game efforts, such as Justice League Task Force, to accelerating Diablo's evolution into a real-time action RPG, including refinements to its isometric engine for dynamic gameplay. This focus enabled key internal milestones in 1996, such as optimizing the engine for seamless multiplayer and elements. By the late , the studio had expanded to over 50 employees, drawing in specialized talent to bolster support for Diablo's expansions and sequels. This era of integration positioned Blizzard North at the forefront of Blizzard's success, most notably with Diablo's landmark release later that year.

Key Developments and Closure

Following the release of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction in 2001, Blizzard North divided its staff into separate teams to pursue multiple initiatives, including early development concepts for Diablo III and other experimental projects. This shift allowed the studio to explore sequel possibilities while maintaining momentum from the Diablo franchise's success, though specific details on the experimental work remained internal. In June 2003, a significant crisis emerged when key executives—president , Max Schaefer, and Erich Schaefer—resigned, along with Blizzard vice president Bill Roper, citing frustrations with parent company Universal's management and challenges to creative autonomy. The departures were attributed to burnout from prolonged development cycles and a desire for greater control over projects, prompting the group to form independent studio the following day. The exodus of the core Diablo team severely impacted operations at Blizzard North, resulting in delays to ongoing projects and necessitating increased oversight from Blizzard Entertainment's headquarters in Irvine, California. This remote management intensified tensions, as the San Mateo-based studio struggled to maintain productivity without its foundational leadership. On August 1, 2005, announced the official closure of Blizzard North to streamline operations and focus resources on supporting the surging popularity of , which had reached over 3.5 million subscribers. The remaining approximately 30 staff members were offered relocation to Irvine for work on an unannounced project—believed to be —or faced layoffs, effectively merging the studio into Blizzard South. This shutdown reflected broader consolidation efforts under Vivendi Universal, which had acquired in 1998 and continued to influence amid corporate restructuring that culminated in the 2008 merger with . Some of the reassigned staff later contributed to the formation of successor studio Castaway Entertainment.

Games

Released Titles

Blizzard North, initially operating as Condor Games, released its first titles as ports of sports games in early 1995. The Game Gear version of was developed and released in February 1995, followed by for in March 1995. These handheld adaptations, published by , featured simulation gameplay with licensed teams and players, though they received limited attention compared to the studio's later work. The studio followed with Justice League Task Force later in 1995. Developed from 1994 to 1995 for the , this one-on-one fighting game featured DC Comics heroes such as , and in a roster of eight playable characters. The game introduced combo systems and special moves inspired by contemporary fighters like , alongside branching story paths based on player choices in versus mode. Published by , it received mixed reviews, with praise for its vibrant visuals and character animations but criticism for stiff controls, limited move sets, and unpolished mechanics that felt derivative. The studio's breakthrough came with Diablo in 1996, marking the debut of its signature (ARPG) formula. Development began in under Condor Games, evolving from a turn-based concept into a real-time isometric dungeon crawler after feedback from publisher prompted the shift to emphasize fast-paced combat. Core mechanics included procedurally generated random dungeons, a addictive loot system with randomized item stats, and real-time hack-and-slash gameplay where players controlled a single hero class—warrior, rogue, or sorcerer—descending into hellish depths to confront the demon lord Diablo. Multiplayer support via the newly launched service enabled online co-op and PvP, a pioneering feature for the genre at the time. Released on December 31, 1996, for Windows (with a Mac port in 1998), the game was followed by the Hellfire expansion in 1997, developed externally by Synergistic Software, which added the monk class, new quests, and cow level rumors that became legendary. Diablo achieved commercial success, selling over 2.5 million copies worldwide by mid-2001, and earned Game of the Year awards for 1996 from outlets including and Computer Gaming World, lauded for its atmospheric gothic horror and addictive progression loop. Building on this foundation, Blizzard North developed from 1997 to 2000, expanding the series into a sprawling sequel with a focus on narrative depth and replayability. Released on June 29, 2000, for Windows and Mac OS, the game introduced an act-based storyline spanning five chapters, where players pursued Diablo and his kin across diverse biomes from deserts to frozen wastelands. Key enhancements included class-specific skill trees with 30 abilities per character (such as the Amazon's javelin throws or the Necromancer's summoning), a shared stash for inventory management, and persistent online realms via that supported up to eight players. The title emphasized exploration with outdoor zones, hirelings for aid in combat, and a runeword crafting system for powerful gear combinations, all while retaining randomized loot and real-time action. Critically acclaimed for its immersive atmosphere, strategic depth, and endless replayability—earning scores around 88/100 on aggregate sites—it sold over 4 million copies in its first year alone, solidifying Blizzard North's influence on the ARPG genre. The official expansion, Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, released on June 29, 2001, further extended the game's lifespan under Blizzard North's development. Crafted in approximately one year starting mid-2000, it integrated seamlessly as a full act six set in the Barbarian Highlands, introducing the class with forms like werewolf and elemental summons, alongside the Assassin class featuring martial arts traps and shadow disciplines. Additional features included an expanded inventory grid, enhanced runeword recipes, and new uber-unique bosses for high-level challenges, all accessible to existing owners without requiring the base game disc after installation. The expansion boosted the series' longevity by refreshing endgame content and multiplayer dynamics, achieving rapid commercial success with over 1 million units sold worldwide within its first month and topping sales charts across , , and .

Cancelled Projects

Blizzard North began development on an early prototype for Diablo III in 2001, envisioning it as a top-down action role-playing game (ARPG) that continued the series' isometric style with added open-world exploration elements, including a focus on heavenly realms as the primary setting. The project, internally referred to as "Diablo 2.5" due to its evolutionary nature from Diablo II, incorporated procedural generation and multiplayer features but faced significant setbacks from creative differences with Blizzard Entertainment's Irvine team. Development halted around 2003 following mass resignations of key personnel, including co-founders David Brevik, Max Schaefer, and Erich Schaefer, which depleted the studio's expertise and led to the prototype's cancellation. The concept was later rebooted by Blizzard's southern studio in Irvine as a 3D isometric title, shifting away from North's original top-down vision. In parallel, a split team at Blizzard North worked on Starblo from 2002 to 2004, an experimental space-themed ARPG that adapted Diablo's core loot-driven gameplay to a sci-fi setting with ship customization, procedural galaxy generation, and interstellar exploration. Post-release support for Diablo II: Lord of Destruction allowed a smaller group to prototype the game internally, featuring modular spacecraft building and combat against alien foes in vast, generated sectors. The project was cancelled in 2004 during broader restructuring at Blizzard North, as resources were redirected and the studio grappled with internal upheavals, though prototypes were demonstrated to executives. Blizzard North briefly considered Diablo Junior in 2001 as a handheld adaptation for the Game Boy Color or , aiming to simplify the series' mechanics for younger audiences with streamlined combat, collectible loot, and character classes inspired by Pokémon-style creature gathering. The single-player-focused prototype emphasized portable accessibility but never advanced to full production, as the studio prioritized core PC titles amid growing pressures from . These cancellations reflected broader patterns at Blizzard North, including resource reallocation to support World of Warcraft development, escalating creative clashes between the northern and southern Blizzard teams, and a significant talent exodus starting in 2003 that ultimately contributed to the studio's closure in 2005.

Successor Studios

Castaway Entertainment

Castaway Entertainment was founded in the summer of 2003 in , by a group of former Blizzard North developers, including brothers Stefan Scandizzo and Michael Scandizzo, following the mass resignations at the parent studio earlier that year. The studio's name reflected the founders' status as "castaways" displaced from Blizzard North, and it initially comprised around nine developers, growing to approximately 25 staff members over time. In March 2004, Castaway Entertainment secured an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement with Electronic Arts (EA), which provided advance funding and office support for an unannounced action game project. The deal focused on developing an innovative title internally codenamed Djinn, an action RPG featuring elements such as real-time storytelling and a card-based modular system, though it remained unrevealed to the public and suffered from significant scope creep during production. The EA partnership dissolved by September 2005 amid dissatisfaction with project progress, leaving to seek alternative funding while continuing work on Djinn. Despite releasing the promotional Xbox Live Arcade title Yaris in 2007 as a marketing vehicle for , the studio produced no major commercial games. Castaway Entertainment suspended operations in April 2008 after roughly five years, citing financial difficulties and the collapse of development projects, which led to layoffs of nearly all remaining staff. In the aftermath, former employees dispersed to other opportunities, including positions at EA's main studios and various independent developers.

Moon Beast Productions

Moon Beast Productions was founded in 2021 in , by Phil Shenk and Peter Hu, former Blizzard North developers who served as lead artist and lead designer on , respectively. Erich Schaefer, co-creator of Diablo I and , joined as co-founder and chief creative officer in 2023, reuniting key alumni from the original Blizzard North team behind the seminal action RPG series. The studio began with a small initial team of around 10-15 veterans from Blizzard North and related projects, emphasizing a lean, passionate group focused on ARPG innovation. The studio's flagship project is an untitled isometric action RPG currently in pre-alpha development as of 2025, featuring modern twists on the genre such as procedural world generation, fully destructible environments, and cooperative multiplayer elements that enable persistent player-driven changes to the game world. In October 2025, the developers discussed their vision in an , highlighting plans for massive multiplayer experiences alongside the core ARPG elements. No official title has been revealed, though it is temporarily referred to as Moon Beast Game in teasers, set in a world blending folklore-inspired lore with fast-paced combat and exploration. In December 2024, Moon Beast Productions secured $4.5 million in seed funding, led by 1AM Gaming and supported by investors including 1UP Ventures, The Mini Fund, , and Versus Ventures, to expand the team and advance technological development for their ARPG. This funding milestone allowed the studio to grow beyond its initial core while maintaining a remote-friendly structure with a small Bay Area office. Moon Beast Productions aims to revive the innovative spirit of early ARPGs like Diablo, focusing on loot-driven gameplay, deep character progression, and emergent player experiences through independent publishing, free from the constraints of large corporate oversight that marked the founders' past endeavors. The studio's vision centers on pushing the genre forward with ambitious features like sandbox-style world interaction and massive-scale multiplayer, drawing directly from their foundational work on loot-centric titles. As of November 2025, Moon Beast Productions remains actively engaged in development, sharing community teasers and pre-alpha playtest footage via social media platforms like Twitter and Discord, with no announced release date for the project.

Legacy

Notable Personnel

David Brevik co-founded Blizzard North (originally Condor Games) in 1993 and served as its president until 2003, where he led the design and programming efforts for the Diablo series. After departing, Brevik co-founded Flagship Studios and contributed to Hellgate: London, followed by a role as CEO of Gazillion Entertainment from 2010 to 2016, overseeing the development of Marvel Heroes. In 2020, he became president of Skystone Games, an indie publisher focused on supporting emerging developers. He is also the founder of Graybeard Games, his independent studio established in 2016. Max Schaefer and his brother Erich Schaefer were also co-founders of Blizzard North in 1993, serving as vice presidents and leading story and art direction for the Diablo series during their tenure through 2003. Post-departure, the brothers co-founded Flagship Studios, contributing to Hellgate: London, before establishing Runic Games in 2008, where they developed the Torchlight series. Erich Schaefer later joined Moon Beast Productions as chief creative officer in 2023, guiding its action RPG project aimed at innovating the genre. Max Schaefer founded Echtra Games in 2016, leading the development of Torchlight III until the studio's closure by Zynga in June 2025. Bill Roper joined Blizzard North in 1996, handling business development and production, including the integration of Battle.net multiplayer features into the Diablo series. Following the 2003 exodus, he co-founded Flagship Studios as CEO, then moved to NCsoft as an executive producer on projects like Dungeon Runners, and later served as president of Cryptic Studios, overseeing City of Heroes expansions. In recent years, Roper founded Lunacy Games, a mid-sized studio developing AA titles such as Innsmouth Mysteries, a Lovecraftian co-op extraction horror RPG. Other notable personnel included Patrick Wyatt, who served as and contributed to networking infrastructure before co-founding in 2000, where he led technical development for . Michio Okamura acted as senior artist for , designing key character visuals and assets that defined the game's gothic aesthetic, and later worked on independent projects after leaving . Blizzard North fostered a tight-knit, collaborative culture among its roughly 50-60 "Northies," emphasizing creative autonomy and flat hierarchies in contrast to the more structured environment at Blizzard's southern headquarters in Irvine. This dynamic enabled rapid iteration on Diablo's core mechanics but also contributed to tensions during the studio's integration with the parent company.

Industry Impact

Blizzard North's development of Diablo in 1996 is widely credited with pioneering the loot-based action role-playing game (ARPG) subgenre, introducing core mechanics such as procedurally generated dungeons, randomized loot drops, and real-time combat that emphasized addictive progression through item collection and character builds. These innovations, refined in Diablo II (2000), established a blueprint for the genre, directly influencing subsequent titles like Path of Exile (2013), which adopted deep customization systems inspired by Diablo's skill trees and endgame grinding, and Torchlight (2009), developed by Blizzard North alumni at Runic Games, which echoed the isometric perspective and loot-driven gameplay while adding pet companions and faster pacing. The studio's emphasis on replayability through random generation and multiplayer integration via Battle.net set a standard for modern ARPGs, including later Diablo iterations that built upon these foundations to incorporate open-world elements and seasonal content updates. Commercially, the Diablo series launched by Blizzard North propelled Blizzard Entertainment into a multi-genre powerhouse, expanding beyond its real-time strategy roots in Warcraft and StarCraft. The franchise has sold tens of millions of units lifetime, with Diablo III alone surpassing 30 million copies including its expansion, while Diablo IV generated over $666 million in its first five days of release in 2023, underscoring the enduring market dominance established by North's original titles. This success diversified Blizzard's portfolio, enabling investments in massively multiplayer online games and esports infrastructure that solidified its position as a leading publisher. Culturally, Blizzard North's work birthed the term "Diablo clone" to describe ARPGs mimicking its hack-and-slash formula, a label that emerged in the late as imitators flooded the market and highlighted the genre's rapid proliferation. The studio's designs fostered vibrant communities around , with featuring organized categories on platforms like Speedrun.com that emphasize optimized builds and exploitation for record times. thrived due to the games' open architecture, spawning like Project Diablo 2 that extend longevity through quality-of-life improvements and new content, while Battle.net's early online multiplayer laid groundwork for esports by enabling competitive ladders and clan-based play, influencing the structured tournaments seen in modern titles. The 2005 closure of Blizzard North accelerated Blizzard Entertainment's centralization in Irvine, California, as remaining staff were relocated and integrated, streamlining operations but contributing to tensions over creative autonomy amid Vivendi's oversight. This shift dispersed North's alumni across the industry, with key figures like Erich Schaefer and Max Schaefer founding to create , perpetuating the loot-focused design philosophy at studios including and beyond, while subtly shaping mechanics in broader ARPG development. In recent years, Moon Beast Productions—founded in 2021 by Blizzard North veterans Phil Shenk, Peter Hu, and Erich Schaefer—secured $4.5 million in seed funding in December 2024, reigniting interest in the studio's original ARPG vision of innovative, data-driven systems amid criticisms of modern entries like and for prioritizing monetization over core gameplay depth. This development underscores Blizzard North's ongoing ripple effects, prompting discussions on recapturing the genre's foundational excitement through independent efforts.

References

  1. https://www.mobygames.com/company/4648/blizzard-north/
  2. https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/10/22/the-history-of-blizzard
  3. https://www.pcgamer.com/diablos-creators-talk-about-blizzards-past-and-present-china-and-diablo-4s-reveal/
  4. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/blizzard-north-shut-down-diablo-team-moves-to-irvine
  5. https://www.filfre.net/2023/07/diablo/
  6. https://www.mobygames.com/person/1020/bill-roper/
  7. https://www.mobygames.com/game/7184/justice-league-task-force/
  8. https://segaretro.org/Justice_League_Task_Force
  9. https://diablo.fandom.com/wiki/Blizzard_North
  10. https://www.purediablo.com/stay-awhile-and-listen-book-ii-reveals-turmoil-between-two-blizzard-studios
  11. http://www.defunctgames.com/review/1354/justice-league-task-force
  12. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/20-years-later-david-brevik-shares-the-story-of-making-i-diablo-i-
  13. https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/every-gamespot-game-of-the-year/2900-653/
  14. https://gamerant.com/highest-selling-games-blizzard-entertainment-ranked-how-much-sold/
  15. https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/diablo3/23460551/diablo-ii-continues-to-inspire-blizzard-20-years-later
  16. https://www.vg247.com/an-oral-history-of-diablo-ii-with-david-brevik-max-schaefer-and-erich-schaefer
  17. http://www.gamesfirst.com/articles/diablo2_sales.htm
  18. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/lord-of-destruction-breaks-sales-record/1100-2798893/
  19. https://www.purediablo.com/diablo-2-lord-of-destruction-breaks-sales-records
  20. https://www.pcgamer.com/the-original-diablo-3-was-canceled-and-it-looked-surprisingly-similar-to-diablo-4/
  21. https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/05/28/the-diablo-iii-that-never-was/
  22. https://www.ign.com/articles/every-canceled-blizzard-game-that-we-know-of-thanks-to-a-new-comprehensive-history-of-the-studio
  23. https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/blizzard-entertainment-every-canceled-game-play-nice/
  24. https://www.gamesradar.com/games/mmo/the-famous-blizzard-graveyard-of-canceled-games-includes-a-sci-fi-diablo-and-a-warcraft-take-on-helldivers/
  25. https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/11/feature_the_story_of_blizzards_diablo_junior_the_game_boy_epic_that_never_was
  26. https://variety.com/2019/gaming/features/diablo-game-boy-1203113888/
  27. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-considered-diablo-for-gameboy-report/1100-6398157/
  28. https://blizzardwatch.com/2019/01/22/diablo-junior-going-blizzards-first-mobile-diablo-game-back-2000/
  29. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/castaway-entertainment-suspends-operations
  30. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-shutters-northern-outpost/1100-6130138/
  31. https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/22/ea-signs-publishing-deal-with-castaway
  32. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/ea-signs-up-castaway
  33. https://www.unseen64.net/2017/01/05/djinn-castaway-entertainment-cancelled/
  34. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/castaway-confirms-that-deal-with-electronic-arts-is-history/1100-6132665/
  35. https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/07/castaway-to-close-its-doors
  36. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/castaway-vets-plant-big-tree-games/1100-6215341/
  37. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/castaway-sends-out-sos/1100-6188850/
  38. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/diablo-ii-lead-designer-and-lead-artist-form-new-studio-moon-beast-productions
  39. https://www.moonbeast.com/careers
  40. https://gamesbeat.com/diablo-co-creator-erich-schaefer-joins-moon-beast-productions-to-make-action-rpg/
  41. https://www.wowhead.com/news/moon-beast-game-an-ex-blizzard-dev-arpg-first-look-378083
  42. https://www.linkedin.com/company/moon-beast-productions
  43. https://arpg.life/moon-beast-productions-discusses-ambitious-new-arpg-procedural-worlds-terraforming-and-massive-multiplayer-dreams/
  44. https://moonbeastgame.com/
  45. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/moon-beast-productions-secures-45m-in-seed-funding
  46. https://www.gamespress.com/Moon-Beast-Productions-Secures-45M-in-Funding
  47. https://www.moonbeast.com/
  48. https://x.com/MoonbeastInc
  49. https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/31/inside-diablos-turn-based-origins
  50. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-i-diablo-i-designer-david-brevik-quits-his-post-as-gazillion-ceo
  51. http://www.graybeardgames.com/about.html
  52. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/meet-the-indie-publisher-that-offers-the-diablo-creator-as-an-executive-producer
  53. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/working-by-torchlight
  54. https://www.ign.com/articles/star-wars-hunters-publisher-shutters-studio-founded-by-torchlight-diablo-creator-before-it-could-announce-its-new-game
  55. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/the-hard-won-wisdom-of-bill-roper
  56. https://lunacygames.com/
  57. https://www.shacknews.com/article/105720/how-diablo-2-evolved-from-gothic-horror-to-epic-fantasy
  58. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/when-i-was-a-kid-i-didnt-dream-of-becoming-a-video-game-executive
  59. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/diablo-2-the-human-cost-of-making-a-classic
  60. https://www.ign.com/articles/ex-diablo-2-devs-talk-about-influence-of-diablo-2-on-the-genre-ign-unfiltered
  61. https://www.engadget.com/diablo-co-creator-erich-schaefer-is-making-an-action-rpg-with-a-studio-of-blizzard-north-veterans-232322721.html
  62. http://blog.hardcoregaming101.net/2011/05/brief-history-of-western-action-rpgs.html
  63. https://investor.activision.com/news-releases/news-release-details/diablor-iv-crosses-666-million-sell-through-within-five-days
  64. https://vgsales.fandom.com/wiki/Best-selling_Blizzard_games
  65. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ActionRPG
  66. https://variety.com/2018/gaming/features/starcraft-ii-esports-history-1202873246/
  67. https://www.pcgamer.com/activisions-effect-on-blizzard-was-like-a-frog-in-a-boiling-pot-of-water-says-former-blizzard-director/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.