Vigil Games originally planned Darksiders as a four player co-op title.

Darksiders 2 lead designer Haydn Dalton explained that the developer didn't want to take the risk of creating a co-op game due to their lack of console experience.

"Originally, Vigil wanted to do a four player co-op game. Realistically, though, we didn’t have much console experience and it was a whole new genre for us. So instead we went down the less risky route and focused on a single one of them."

Although the studio still contemplate the inclusion of co-op in the franchise, Dalton said Vigil dismissed their idea of co-op integration for the sequel in order to not alter its predecessor's success as a single-player game.

"I don’t think there’s anyone here that likes Darksiders and doesn’t like the idea of causing destruction with three buddies. The puzzles would have to change quite a lot, because we design them with a single person’s perspective in mind. Co-op puzzles would be a whole new challenge for us, and how the game would work if someone decided that they wanted to play by themselves."

Darksiders 2 is currently scheduled for a release in North America on August 14.