"Heroes of Newerth Returns: Celebration on Hold"

The MOBA genre is facing challenging times, with two of its most prominent titles, Dota 2 and League of Legends, experiencing difficulties. Valve's Dota 2 appears to be becoming a niche product, primarily popular in Eastern Europe, while Riot Games struggles to revitalize League of Legends, which seems to have entered a mature phase.

In the midst of this, Garena has announced the revival of Heroes of Newerth, a game that once rivaled these giants in the early 2010s but was later discontinued. The game is being rebuilt on a new engine, and the trailer looks promising, sparking some excitement. However, there are several concerns that temper this enthusiasm.

Firstly, Heroes of Newerth is a re-release of a live-service game that is over a decade old. The MOBA genre has waned in popularity, and many players have shifted to newer gaming trends and platforms. Secondly, Garena's track record in supporting projects and esports has often been questioned. If the company truly believed in the game's potential, why was it shut down initially?

Thirdly, the game is set to launch on the iGames platform, which relies partially on crowdfunding. This raises questions about its distribution strategy, particularly the absence from Steam. In today's gaming landscape, bypassing Valve's platform makes it challenging to reach a broad audience.

These factors suggest that Heroes of Newerth might remain a niche project with potential for organic growth, yet significant doubts persist. On a positive note, the game is slated for release within the next year, providing a clear timeline for its comeback.

Image: igames.com