Heroes of Newerth made a comeback, but it's too early to celebrate

The MOBA landscape is facing challenges. Heavyweights like Dota 2 and League of Legends are experiencing difficulties; Dota 2 is becoming increasingly regionalized, while League of Legends appears to be losing momentum. Against this backdrop, Garena's announcement of Heroes of Newerth's revival—a noteworthy MOBA competitor in the early 2010s—has generated mixed reactions. The game, rebuilt with a new engine, boasts an impressive trailer.

However, several concerns remain. Firstly, this is a re-release of a decade-old live-service game. The MOBA genre's popularity has waned, with players migrating to different platforms and gaming trends.

Secondly, Garena's track record with game support and esports raises questions. Their claim of always believing in Heroes of Newerth's potential clashes with the game's initial closure.

Thirdly, the game's launch on the iGames platform, a partially crowdfunded platform, is puzzling. The absence of a Steam release is a significant drawback, as reaching a broad audience without Valve's platform is challenging in today's market.

Image: igames.com

While Heroes of Newerth's revival presents a potential for organic growth, significant doubts persist. A positive note is the projected one-year release timeframe.