The MOBA genre is facing challenging times, with two of its giants, Dota 2 and League of Legends, experiencing difficulties. Dota 2, developed by Valve, has increasingly become a niche product, particularly popular in Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, Riot Games struggles to revitalize League of Legends, a game that seems to be entering its autumn phase.
In the midst of this, Garena has announced the revival of Heroes of Newerth, a game that once rivaled these titans back in the early 2010s but was later shut down. The new version is being developed on a fresh engine, and the trailer has generated some excitement. While this news might seem cause for celebration, several concerns temper the enthusiasm.
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 moved on to newer platforms and gaming trends. 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 is partially crowdfunded. This raises the question: where is Steam? In today's gaming landscape, it's challenging to attract a large audience without leveraging Valve's platform.
All these factors suggest that Heroes of Newerth might remain a niche project with potential for organic growth, but doubts persist. On a positive note, there is a clear timeline—the game is expected to be released within a year.
Image: igames.com
