The newly announced ARPG Project Pantheon is looking to bring a fresh twist to the genre by combining the gameplay and loot of Diablo with the high-stakes survival of extraction shooters.
Developed by Wolcen Studio (whose previous game, Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem, is also an ARPG) and described as an “ExtrAction RPG,” Project Pantheon will be free-to-play and see players transported to a mysterious afterlife where they are tasked by Death to battle through realms inspired by different mythologies. Along the way, players will upgrade their base of operations and battle through maps featuring PvPvE combat, where those who escape will bring home valuable loot while those slain in battle may lose their gear for good. Wolcen says the game will also feature a player-driven economy where players can trade with one another.
Though the game’s first revealed environment is a “fantastical reinterpretation” of Norse mythology, Wolcen states in a press release that Project Pantheon’s dark fantasy world will draw “inspiration from a vast and diverse array of traditional tales and cultures from around the world.”
Project Pantheon has been in development for over a year and is currently in early alpha. Wolcen is looking to get players in early to help shape development, and as such will be hosting a closed alpha on January 25-26 for European players and February 1-2 for those in North America. The closed alpha test will “serve as a primarily technical evaluation, focused on validating the stability and performance of Project Pantheon’s backend systems, server infrastructure, and community channels,” according to a press release.
“Project Pantheon delivers a unique experience by merging the fast-paced combat of ARPGs with the tension and risk-reward gameplay mechanics of extraction shooters,” game director Andrei Chirculete said in a press release. “Project Pantheon is what would happen if Diablo and Escape From Tarkov had a baby–a fusion of different, exciting gameplays. We are eager to see how our players react.”
Wolcen’s new ARPG does not have a release window, but its announcement comes at a busy time for the genre. Diablo 4 released its Vessel of Hatred expansion in October 2024 and will soon launch its seventh season. Meanwhile, Path of Exile 2 has climbed up Steam’s most-played charts after releasing in early access, with an upcoming update looking to bring major changes to its endgame.