HeNW Revival: Premature Celebration or Path to Success?

The MOBA genre faces challenges, with giants like Dota 2 and League of Legends struggling to maintain their dominance. 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—a noteworthy competitor in the early 2010s—is intriguing. Developed on a new engine, the trailer suggests a promising comeback.

However, several concerns remain. Firstly, relaunching a decade-old live-service MOBA in a market that has shifted away from the genre presents a significant hurdle. Player migration to newer platforms and gaming trends poses a substantial challenge.

Secondly, Garena's track record with game support and esports initiatives raises questions. Their claim of always believing in Heroes of Newerth's potential contrasts with the game's initial closure.

Thirdly, the game's launch on the iGames platform, a partially crowdfunded initiative, is puzzling. The notable absence of a Steam release is a significant drawback, hindering its potential to reach a wider audience.

Image: igames.com

While Heroes of Newerth's revival offers a glimmer of hope for organic growth, significant uncertainties remain. The one positive is the projected one-year release timeline.