Heroes of Newerth Returns: Cautious Optimism

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

Against this backdrop, Garena's announcement of Heroes of Newerth's revival is intriguing. This once-prominent competitor from the early 2010s, which ultimately shut down, is being rebuilt on a new engine, and initial trailers are encouraging.

However, several concerns cloud the optimism. Releasing a decade-old live-service MOBA in a market that has shifted away from the genre presents a significant hurdle. Player migration to newer platforms and gaming trends poses a considerable challenge.

Furthermore, Garena's track record with game support and esports initiatives raises questions. Their claim of always believing in Heroes of Newerth's potential conflicts with the game's initial closure. This lack of clarity fuels skepticism.

The game's launch on the iGames platform, a partially crowdfunded initiative, further complicates matters. The notable absence of a Steam release is a significant drawback, hindering the potential to reach a broad audience. Securing a large player base without Valve's platform is a steep uphill battle.

Image: igames.com

Therefore, while Heroes of Newerth's return offers a glimmer of hope and potential for organic growth, substantial doubts remain. The one positive is the projected one-year release timeline.