When you think of ‘MOBA,’ two things come to mind: Dota 2, and League of Legends. While we’ve seen a plucky new rival rise to the surface in Supervive, most competitors have come and gone, unable to topple Valve and Riot’s titanic titles. But that isn’t the goal for Heroes of Newerth: Reborn, the brand new remaster of S2 Games’ classic 2010 multiplayer game. Instead, it’s about breathing new life into a project that was shut down too early.
But let’s start with the basics. Inspired by Warcraft 3’s custom map Defense of the Ancients (where Dota gets its name from), Heroes of Newerth: Reborn is an upgraded version of the classic MOBA, reimagined using the iGames engine. Equipped with a brand-new role queue and enhanced combat, the goal is simple: destroy the enemy’s base before they destroy yours.
The original Heroes of Newerth was shuttered in 2022, possibly a result of a waning playerbase and the increase in competition. Loyal fans have kept it alive in the form of Project Kongor, however. Now, Kongor Studios is officially bringing the multiplayer game back from the grave with the help of Southeast Asian publisher Garena.
That leaves me with one question for Kongor Studios’ director of communications, Nick “BreakyCPK” Caras: why now? “While Heroes of Newerth enjoyed significant success during its time, many, including us at Kongor Studios, felt that its closure came too soon and under circumstances that didn’t fully reflect its legacy,” he tells me.
“Our goal is not only to revive Heroes of Newerth but also to enhance it by introducing improvements while preserving the core elements that made the original so beloved.”
But there’s risk associated with reimagining an older game for a very different era. OG players often expect the same experience, simply repackaged with a little more pizazz, whereas newer players want something slick and polished. I ask Caras how the team has balanced nostalgia and modernization, ensuring that it keeps the essence of Heroes of Newerth while continuing to innovate on its core principals.
“We recognize that it is no small task to preserve the elements of the game that previous players loved while introducing meaningful updates, but we are fully committed to the challenge,” Caras states. “With the modernization of the game, we are confident in our approach, leveraging the vastly improved iGames engine, enhanced visuals and audio, and a range of other updates.
“Our goal is to strike the right balance, honoring the legacy of Heroes of Newerth while creating an experience that appeals to both veteran players and newcomers alike. We believe this balance will result in a game that many will enjoy for years to come.”
But still, Dota 2 and League of Legends dominate the MOBA world. So, what’s the plan? While Heroes of Newerth “is not intended to compete directly” with either of them, the team is “confident that the game will bring its own unique elements to the MOBA genre, allowing it to carve out its own identity.”
And it potentially comes at a good time, too. As Dota 2 wanes in the West and League of Legends comes under fire for increasingly intrusive microtransactions, people are looking for something new. I ask Caras about how Kongor plans to approach in-game purchases, something that’s certainly ramped up in the years that Heroes of Newerth has been dormant.
“Microtransactions will be part of our broader monetization strategy, but they will not serve as the sole source of revenue,” he tells me. “Our primary focus is on developing systems that reward players for their engagement and ensure that monetization remains unobtrusive to the core gameplay experience.
“As gamers ourselves, we are committed to finding the right balance, one that prioritizes meaningful player engagement, delivers value through optional purchases, and supports the long-term sustainability of the studio. We are also developing something unconventional for this, and we are eager to see how people respond once it’s ready to be revealed.” What that is remains a mystery for now, but color me intrigued.
Featuring a colossal 80 characters at launch, Heroes of Newerth: Reborn is completely free to play, and will be available on the iGame platform. While there’s no set release date at the moment, you can keep up with the project on the official website.
In the meantime, however, we have a list of all the best free Steam games if you’re looking for something new but don’t want to break the bank. Alternatively, we have a rundown of every upcoming PC game for both 2025 and beyond – add Heroes of Newerth into the mix, and 2025’s looking pretty damn good.
You can also follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides, or join our community Discord to stay in the know.