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

The MOBA genre faces challenges, with giants like Dota 2 and League of Legends struggling to maintain their dominance. 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 competitor in the early 2010s—is intriguing. Developed on a new engine, the trailer suggests a promising return.

However, several concerns arise. Firstly, this is a re-release of a decade-old live-service game, a genre that has experienced a decline in popularity. Many players have shifted 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 noteworthy. The absence of a Steam release is a significant concern, as reaching a broad audience without Valve's platform presents a substantial hurdle in today's market.

Image: igames.com

While Heroes of Newerth's revival could potentially experience organic growth, significant doubts remain. The one positive is the projected one-year release timeline.