Modder Drelvak has released a new development update for a fan project that converts Blizzard Entertainment original 1996 Diablo into a 3D first person action role playing game. Built on the open source DevilutionX port, the modification preserves the core logic, tile based movement and spellcasting rules of the classic while moving the camera down to ground level. The project is now roughly halfway complete, with the town hub of Tristram rebuilt for on foot exploration and working LAN multiplayer already in place.
Cinematic assets rebuilt for a ground level Tristram
To keep the 3D space faithful to the original, Drelvak pulled visual assets and skybox elements directly from Diablo original cinematic cutscenes. Players can toggle the skybox on or off, choosing between an authentic sky and the pitch black voids that long time fans will remember from the isometric view. The result keeps the mood of the 1996 release while letting players walk its streets at eye level for the first time.
Camera control is built for players who cannot decide between old and new. A single hotkey switches instantly between the legacy isometric view and the new first person perspective. The instant camera swap works much like the camera options in Diablo II Resurrected, and it means purists can check the classic framing at any moment without reloading or restarting an area.
In a dev diary video, Drelvak walks through how the build came together on top of DevilutionX with 3D support added to the engine. Early coverage compared the look to classic Doom, and the new footage shows how far the presentation has come since those first tests. The timing is notable for series fans following the BlizzCon 2026 Diablo news.
LAN multiplayer joins uncoupled interface scaling
The headline feature of this update is functional LAN multiplayer, which lets players crawl the dungeon side by side in first person. Multiplayer support in a fan engine project is a serious technical hurdle, so having it working at the halfway point signals that the core networking model is sound. Co op dungeon runs through Tristram and the cathedral depths are the kind of sessions this mode was made for.
Drelvak also reworked the interface layer. The update successfully uncoupled the isometric zoom level from the HUD scaling system, so players can now adjust the interface size independently without shifting the camera distance. It is a quality of life fix that matters more than it sounds, since readable health, mana and inventory readouts are vital when the camera sits at ground level instead of floating above the action.
Halfway done with no release date yet
Development on the project is roughly halfway complete. Environmental reconstruction has expanded beyond the opening areas to include the full town hub of Tristram, which gives players a familiar home base rendered from a perspective the series has never offered before. Work continues on the remaining dungeon levels and polish, and Drelvak has not announced a release date or public download yet.
Fan conversions of this scope live or die on steady progress, and back to back updates with multiplayer plus a finished town hub suggest healthy momentum. Players who want to track the project should watch the modder dev diary videos, where each milestone build is shown running in real time. A first person return to Tristram has been a daydream for Diablo fans for decades, and this is the closest that daydream has come to reality.
Can you play the Diablo first person mod right now
There is no public release or download date yet. Drelvak describes the project as roughly halfway complete, so interested players should follow the modder dev diary videos to track each milestone build as it is shown running.
How do you switch between first person and isometric view
A single hotkey toggles instantly between the legacy isometric view and the new first person perspective at any time. The swap works in place with no reload, similar to the camera options in Diablo II Resurrected.
Does the Diablo first person mod support multiplayer
Yes. The latest development update confirms functional LAN multiplayer alongside the single player experience, so players can explore Tristram and the dungeon together in first person.
Please note that when you make a purchase through our links at GameHaunt, we might earn a small commission. This helps us keep bringing you the free journalism you love on our site! And don't worry, our editorial content remains totally unbiased. If you'd like to show some support, you can do so here.
