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

The MOBA genre is facing a challenging period. Giants like Dota 2 and League of Legends, once dominant forces, are struggling. Dota 2 is increasingly a niche title, primarily popular in Eastern Europe, while League of Legends appears to be losing momentum, feeling somewhat stale.

Against this backdrop, Garena's announcement of Heroes of Newerth's revival is intriguing. This MOBA, a significant competitor in the early 2010s, is being reborn with a new engine, and initial trailers look promising.

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

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 service, is notable. The absence of a Steam release is particularly concerning, as reaching a broad audience without Valve's platform is a significant hurdle.

Image: igames.com

These factors cast doubt on Heroes of Newerth's potential for widespread success, suggesting it might remain a niche title, despite the positive aspects of organic growth. The one bright spot is a projected release within a year.