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 struggling to maintain momentum.
Against this backdrop, Garena's announcement of Heroes of Newerth's revival is intriguing. Once a significant competitor in the early 2010s, the game is being rebuilt on a new engine, and initial trailers are encouraging.
However, several concerns remain. Firstly, the re-release of a decade-old live-service game in a genre that has 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 initial closure.
Thirdly, the game's launch on the iGames platform, a partially crowdfunded platform, is noteworthy. The absence of a Steam release is particularly concerning, as Steam remains crucial for reaching a broad audience in the current gaming market.
Image: igames.com
While Heroes of Newerth's revival has the potential for organic growth, significant uncertainties remain. The projected one-year release timeframe, however, offers a degree of clarity.
