"Heroes of Newerth Returns, Celebration on Hold"

The MOBA genre is currently navigating a challenging phase. Two of its flagship titles, Dota 2 and League of Legends, are showing signs of fatigue. Dota 2, once a global phenomenon, has largely retreated to a dedicated core in Eastern Europe, while League of Legends appears to be losing momentum as Riot Games struggles to inject new life into a franchise that many feel has entered its later years.

Amid this backdrop, Garena has announced the revival of [ttpp], a game that once stood proudly among the top MOBAs of the early 2010s before its original run came to a close. The reboot is being built on a modern engine, and the recently released trailer has generated some genuine excitement.

At first glance, this seems like a reason for celebration—yet several concerns remain. First and foremost, this is a re-launch of a live-service title that's over ten years old. The MOBA genre itself has lost much of its mainstream appeal, with many players having shifted toward newer platforms and evolving gaming trends.

Secondly, there’s the issue of Garena’s track record. The company has long faced scrutiny regarding how it supports both its games and esports initiatives. If Garena always believed in the potential of [ttpp], then why was it shut down originally? This question lingers heavily over the announcement.

Thirdly, the game is set to launch exclusively on the iGames platform, which operates with partial crowdfunding support. While unique, this approach raises another critical question: what about Steam? In today’s market, reaching a wide audience without Valve’s platform is an uphill battle.

Image: igames.com

All of these factors suggest that [ttpp] may begin as a small, niche project with the potential for organic growth—but skepticism remains warranted. On the positive side, at least there is a clear timeline: the game is expected to launch within the next year.