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 experiencing declining popularity. Dota 2 is becoming increasingly regionalized, while League of Legends struggles to maintain momentum. Against this backdrop, Garena's announcement of Heroes of Newerth's revival—a noteworthy MOBA competitor from the early 2010s—has sparked mixed reactions. The game, rebuilt with a new engine, boasts an impressive trailer.

However, several concerns remain. Firstly, the game's age (over a decade old) and the MOBA genre's waning popularity pose significant hurdles. Player migration to newer platforms and gaming trends presents a considerable challenge.

Secondly, Garena's track record with game support and esports raises questions. The company's claim of always believing in Heroes of Newerth's potential conflicts with its initial decision to shut it down.

Thirdly, the game's launch on the iGames platform, a partially crowdfunded platform, is puzzling. The absence of a Steam release is a major drawback, hindering its potential to reach a broad audience.

Image: igames.com

While Heroes of Newerth's revival presents a potential for organic growth, significant doubts persist. The one positive is the projected one-year release timeline.