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

The MOBA landscape is currently facing challenges. Established giants 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—a once-significant MOBA competitor—has generated mixed reactions. The game, rebuilt with a new engine, boasts an impressive trailer.

However, several concerns remain. Firstly, this is a decade-old live-service game relaunching into a market where MOBAs have declined in popularity, with players migrating to newer genres and platforms.

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 partially crowdfunded iGames platform is puzzling, particularly the absence of a Steam release. Securing a substantial player base today is challenging without Valve's platform.

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 promise of a one-year release timeline. While the revival is intriguing, significant hurdles remain.