"Heroes of Newerth Returns, Celebration on Hold"

The MOBA genre is navigating through challenging times, with stalwarts like Dota 2 and League of Legends facing their own struggles. Dota 2, developed by Valve, appears to be carving a niche primarily in Eastern Europe, while Riot Games' League of Legends seems to be grappling with injecting new vitality into a game that many feel is in its later stages. Amid these dynamics, Garena has sparked interest by announcing the revival of Heroes of Newerth, a title that once rivaled these giants in the early 2010s before its eventual shutdown. The game is being rebooted on a new engine, and its trailer has generated a buzz.

While this news might seem like a cause for celebration, there are significant concerns. Firstly, Heroes of Newerth is a re-release of a live-service game that's over a decade old. The MOBA genre itself has seen a decline in popularity, with many gamers shifting to newer platforms and trends. Secondly, Garena's track record in supporting projects and esports has often been questioned. If the company truly believed in the potential of Heroes of Newerth, 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 of why Steam, a key platform for reaching a broad audience, is not part of the launch strategy.

These factors contribute to the perception of Heroes of Newerth as a niche project with potential for organic growth, yet surrounded by uncertainties. On a positive note, there is a clear timeline for its release, expected within the next year.