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 is intriguing. This MOBA, a significant competitor in the early 2010s, is being relaunched with a new engine, and initial trailers are encouraging.
However, several concerns exist. Firstly, it's a re-release of a decade-old live-service game in a genre that's seen a decline in popularity. Many players have migrated to different 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 contradicts its previous closure.
Thirdly, the game's launch on the iGames platform, a partially crowdfunded platform, is notable. The absence of a Steam release is a significant drawback, hindering its potential reach to a broader audience.
Image: igames.com
While Heroes of Newerth's revival presents a chance for organic growth, significant uncertainties remain. The one positive is a defined release timeframe – within one year.
