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, reviving a decade-old live-service game in a genre that's declined in popularity presents a significant hurdle. Player migration to newer platforms and gaming trends poses a considerable challenge.
Secondly, Garena's track record with game support and esports raises questions. Their claim of always believing in Heroes of Newerth's potential conflicts with the game's previous closure.
Thirdly, the game's launch on the iGames platform, a partially crowdfunded initiative, is notable. The absence of a Steam release is a significant drawback, hindering the potential for a large player base acquisition.
Image: igames.com
While organic growth is possible, Heroes of Newerth's future remains uncertain. The one positive is the projected one-year release timeframe. The revival, therefore, warrants cautious optimism.
