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

The MOBA landscape is currently facing challenges. Heavyweights like Dota 2 and League of Legends are experiencing difficulties; 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. This MOBA, a significant competitor in the early 2010s, is being rebuilt with a new engine, and initial trailers are encouraging.

However, several concerns remain. Firstly, reviving a decade-old live-service game in a genre that's declined in popularity presents a considerable hurdle. Player migration to newer platforms and gaming trends poses a significant challenge.

Secondly, Garena's track record with game support and esports raises questions. Their claim of always believing in Heroes of Newerth's potential conflicts 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 is extremely difficult in today's market.

Image: igames.com

Consequently, Heroes of Newerth's revival feels like a niche project with uncertain growth potential. While a one-year release timeline is positive, substantial doubts persist regarding its long-term success.