Heroes of Newerth Returns: Cautious Optimism

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's announcement of Heroes of Newerth's revival is intriguing. This once-significant competitor from the early 2010s, after a period of closure, is being rebuilt with a new engine, and initial trailers look 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 migrating 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 shutdown.

Thirdly, the game's launch on the iGames platform, a partially crowdfunded platform, is noteworthy. The absence of a Steam release is particularly concerning, as broad appeal in today's market is difficult to achieve without Valve's platform.

Image: igames.com

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