Diablo was once a “turn-based DOS game”

Blizzard dev explains how a small decision changed Diablo for the better

Jeremy ProomeMarch 15, 2013

The Diablo series is known for its fast-paced yet strategy-infused action-RPG elements, but Blizzard has revealed that the celebrated game was once very different to what was released.

Blizzard North head David Brevik has said that the early iteration of Diablo was actually a turn-based solo adventure that lacked any form of online capability.

“Diablo, originally, was a single-player, turn-based DOS game that evolved into real-time action-roleplaying,” Brevik explained. “We made up Battle.net six months before the end of [development on] Diablo. The idea of it came six months before the launch, so we went back and we made Diablo multiplayer.”

It’s interesting to note how the development of Battle.net sparked a last minute change to Diablo, that essentially made it a much more relevant and better game.

Do you think Diablo wouldn’t have had the same impact it did if it were a solo-only, turn-based DOS game? Let us know what you think below and in the MyGaming forums.