"Heroes of Newerth Returns: Celebration on Hold"

The MOBA genre is facing challenging times, with two giants, Dota 2 and League of Legends, struggling to maintain their dominance. Valve's Dota 2 appears to be increasingly niche, particularly in Eastern Europe, while Riot Games' League of Legends seems to be in a stagnant phase, lacking the innovation needed to reinvigorate its player base.

Amidst this backdrop, Garena has announced the revival of Heroes of Newerth, a game that once rivaled the top MOBAs in the early 2010s but was eventually shut down. The game is being rebuilt on a new engine, and the trailer has sparked some excitement. While this might seem like a cause for celebration, several concerns loom large.

Firstly, Heroes of Newerth is a re-release of a live-service game that's over a decade old. The MOBA genre has lost much of its former popularity, with many players having shifted their attention to newer gaming platforms and trends.

Secondly, Garena's track record in supporting projects and esports has been questionable. The company claims it always believed in Heroes of Newerth's potential, yet it previously shut the game down. This raises doubts about their commitment and strategy.

Thirdly, the game will be launched on the iGames platform, which is partially crowdfunded. This decision prompts the question: why not Steam? In today's gaming landscape, reaching a broad audience without Valve's platform is a significant challenge.

Image: igames.com

All these factors position Heroes of Newerth as potentially another niche project, with the possibility of organic growth but surrounded by substantial skepticism. On a positive note, there's a clear timeline for release—the game is expected to launch within a year.