No Rest for the Wicked Dev Slams “Irreparable Damage” Done to Diablo as Former Blizzard Boss Tells Him to “Chill”

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By New Year’s Eve, Mahler escalated the rhetoric significantly. “Mike, real talk: You were put in charge of Diablo and you didn’t treat it with the respect it deserved,” he charged in a lengthy post.

“Diablo used to mean something. Diablo 2 was a total masterclass that showcased the power of Western game design,” Mahler continued. “You greenlit the transformation of Diablo into a microtransaction-heavy slot machine where players are expected to drop $65 on horse armor.”

Mahler was referring to a controversial $65 currency bundle Blizzard introduced, which included a “free” horse cosmetic—a move widely criticized as blatant price anchoring. This isn’t the first time Mahler has targeted this specific monetization tactic.

“It’s time for executives to stop patting themselves on the back after dismantling legendary franchises and start taking personal responsibility,” Mahler added. He further lambasted the concept of “Toxic Positivity,” stating, “If you create a flawed game, you should feel bad about it. There shouldn’t be a chorus of people congratulating you for a job poorly done.”

Ybarra responded aggressively to the personal call-out. “You can critique other games all you want,” he said. “But running around putting down Diablo and Path of Exile while begging people to play your game is stupid. I get you’re desperate at this point, but I’d focus on your own game.”

Mahler was undeterred, reiterating his respect for the developers at Grinding Gear Games (Path of Exile 2) while arguing that Blizzard’s own management allowed a “tiny Australian studio” to claim the ARPG crown. He then doubled down on his critique of Ybarra’s leadership tenure.

“You were in charge when Blizzard made Diablo Immortal and Diablo 4. You are responsible,” Mahler asserted. “Both have caused irreparable harm to the franchise. I’m guessing that’s why you got booted and now lead a gambling company. Please don’t lecture me on games; I’ve likely forgotten more about design than you’ll ever understand.”

Ybarra’s retort was swift and pointed: “I don’t have to work anymore. You do,” he shot back, before alluding to Mahler’s notoriously difficult reputation during Moon Studios’ partnership with Xbox on Ori. “All your future partners read this and understand what they are getting involved with. Good luck. I hope your team is successful.”

In a final parting shot, Mahler emphasized that Moon Studios remains “independent” and “not reliant on any publisher.” He questioned why Ybarra felt the need to bring up his personal wealth, noting that he works for the love of the craft, not because of corporate necessity. “I don’t know if pointing out that you got a golden handshake after being fired makes you look particularly great either… Anyway, no hard feelings.”

As of January 2024, Ybarra’s departure from Blizzard followed significant layoffs under Microsoft. He now serves as the CEO of PrizePicks, a fantasy sports platform. It’s a remarkably combative end to the year, showcasing a level of executive transparency—and hostility—rarely seen in the industry.

Meanwhile, the director of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 recently gave The Outer Worlds 2 a “7/10” score, hoping Obsidian utilizes Microsoft’s resources to build RPGs closer to Fallout: New Vegas.