The MOBA genre is facing challenges. Established giants like Dota 2 and League of Legends are struggling to maintain their dominance. Dota 2 is increasingly a niche title, particularly popular in Eastern Europe, while League of Legends, despite its legacy, seems to be losing momentum.
Against this backdrop, Garena's announcement of Heroes of Newerth's revival is intriguing. This once-prominent MOBA competitor, which shut down in the early 2010s, is being rebuilt with a new engine, and initial trailers are promising.
However, several concerns remain. Firstly, this is a re-release of a decade-old live-service game in a genre experiencing a decline in popularity. Many players have shifted to different games 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 iGames platform, a partially crowdfunded platform, is notable. The absence of a Steam release is a significant concern, as Steam remains crucial for reaching a broad audience in today's market.
Image: igames.com
These factors suggest Heroes of Newerth might remain a niche project, despite its potential for organic growth. The one positive is a defined release timeline – within one year.
