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 is intriguing. The game, a significant competitor in the early 2010s, is being rebuilt with a new engine, and initial trailers are encouraging.

However, several concerns exist. Firstly, reviving a decade-old live-service MOBA in a market that has shifted away from the genre presents a significant hurdle. Player bases have migrated 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 notable for the absence of Steam. Securing a substantial player base without Valve's platform is a considerable challenge in today's market.

Image: igames.com

While Heroes of Newerth's revival could see organic growth, significant doubts remain. The one positive is a defined release timeline – within one year.