Heroes of Newerth debuted as a multiplayer online battle arena in 2010. In 2022, the once-popular MOBA game shut down. But death was a mere illusion.
Today, Kongor Studios and Garena are announcing the return of the free-to-play title on the iGames Platform as Heroes of Newerth: Reborn. It will have a revamped engine, modern features and a tribute to its legacy, the companies said.
They say that Heroes of Newerth: Reborn brings a new era to the game while staying true to its iconic roots. It will have a crowdfunding campaign, and the game is still in development. The reborn game has been in the works for a year, and the company is aiming for a late 2025 or early 2026 launch.
Originally released in 2010, Heroes of Newerth became a cult classic in the MOBA genre, setting itself apart with its fast-paced gameplay and deep strategy. Now, Heroes of Newerth: Reborn seeks to build upon that legacy with significant upgrades and an enhanced player experience.
With over 80 heroes available at launch and more planned, the game strikes a balance between nostalgia and modern innovation. It also features improved performance, smoother gameplay, and a completely revamped user interface powered by the advanced iGames Engine.
Kongor studios brings the vision back to life
S2 Games was the original developer, and it launched a beta in 2009, coming off of DOTA from Warcraft II. In 2015, S2 sold the game to Garena, the publisher of Free Fire. Nick Caras, director of communications at Kongor, said that fans and the devs felt like the game shut down “too soon” in 2022. They felt like Heroes of Newerth inspired gameplay in League of Legends and DOTA 2.
After Garena shut its own company servers, the community operated its own servers. Caras said there was a sign of demand in that, even after the game shut down, the fans kept it going. The concurrency ranged from 2,000 players or so to more than 9,000 servers in the post-shutdown era.
“After years of community support and the dedication of a passionate fan base, we are beyond excited to bring Heroes of Newerth back to life,” said Jesse Hayes, cofounder of Kongor Studios and former S2 Games developer, in a statement. “This isn’t just a relaunch, but a reimagining of what the game can be in today’s competitive gaming world. From the visuals to the network performance, we’ve worked hard to bring the best possible experience to both veteran players and newcomers.”
Garena owns the IP, but Kongor Studios has secured the right to use the name and relaunch the game. Garena is interested in seeing how it goes and how the reborn game will carry on the legacy, Caras said.
“We’re definitely excited,” Caras said.
It is using its own unique iGames game engine that Kongor created. The imagery will be better, and it will run fast and will be responsive, he said.
Caras, also known as BreakyCPK, said, “Heroes of Newerth has always held a special place in the hearts of players, and with HoN: Reborn, we’ve kept what made the game unique while upgrading everything around it. Our partnership with Garena has been essential in making this a reality, and we can’t wait for players to jump back into Newerth with the improved iGames platform.”
Mark DeForest, founder of S2 Games, is working on the iGames engine in a separate company.
“Garena has always believed in the potential of Heroes of Newerth as a game that resonated with its players on a deep level,” said Jason Ng, vice president of strategic partnerships at Garena, in a statement. “We are excited to work with Kongor Studios to breathe new life into the franchise. This collaboration ensures that the original game’s spirit lives on while reaching a broader audience through modern improvements.”
New features and launch details
- Heroes of Newerth: Reborn will feature:
- Unleash the Power of 80+ Heroes: Jump into battle with over 80 handpicked heroes at launch, each ready to dominate the arena. And the roster will keep growing post-launch.
- Experience Lightning-Fast Gameplay: Powered by a cutting-edge engine, enjoy buttery-smooth performance with higher FPS and ultraresponsive 100-tick servers.
- Revamped Audio & Visuals: Dive into a fully remastered world with enhanced sounds, updated effects, and a modernized UI that stays true to the game you love.
- Face the Mighty Phoenix: Challenge yourself against the all-new boss character, Phoenix, a difficult yet rewarding objective.
- Master New Mechanics: Discover innovative gameplay with the introduction of Ravens to assist with sight, have Kongor push a lane, and more.
- Taunt with Style: Dominate the psychological game! Use emotes to taunt your opponents and leave them tilted as you claim victory.
- Role Queue: You can now select which role(s) you prefer to play when you queue up for a match
- Additionally, Heroes of Newerth: Reborn will serve as the inaugural title on the iGames Platform. Players will also have the opportunity to support the project directly through the iGames Genesis Campaign, a community-driven initiative with exclusive rewards for supporters. It’s a crowdfunding campaign.
Garena is a leading global online games developer and publisher. Free Fire, its self-developed mobile battle royale title, was the world’s most downloaded mobile game from 2019 to 2021. And Free Fire was the most downloaded mobile battle royale in 2022 and 2023, according to data.ai.
Kongor has about 20 to 25 people in remote locations. Caras is in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where S2 was originally based.
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