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

The MOBA genre is facing a challenging period. Heavyweights like Dota 2 and League of Legends are encountering difficulties. Dota 2, primarily popular in Eastern Europe, is becoming increasingly niche, while League of Legends, despite its legacy, appears to be losing momentum.

Against this backdrop, Garena has announced the revival of Heroes of Newerth, a significant MOBA competitor of the early 2010s, which was previously discontinued. Developed on a new engine, the game's trailer is indeed promising.

While this news might seem cause for celebration, several concerns remain. Firstly, this is a re-release of a decade-old live-service game. The MOBA genre's popularity has waned, with many players shifting to newer 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 curious. The absence of a Steam release is particularly notable; reaching a wide audience today is difficult without Valve's platform.

Image: igames.com

These factors cast doubt on Heroes of Newerth's potential for widespread success, suggesting it might remain a niche title, albeit one with potential for organic growth. However, the projected one-year release timeline offers a degree of optimism.