Heroes of Newerth: Reborn returns for a public test run on November 11, 2025, with an open beta that will be free on PC and distributed exclusively through the Juvio launcher. The revival is headed by Kongor Studios with backing from Garena, and promises technical and gameplay changes meant to modernise the old HoN formula.
For those who remember the original, Heroes of Newerth was an early modern MOBA that once reached six-figure concurrent peaks and produced players who later moved into other pro scenes. The original retail service closed in 2022. Reborn is a ground-up revival that leans on community contributors and veterans from the Project Kongor scene.
Development is led by Kongor Studios, a team that includes contributors from the original HoN community and Frostburn alumni. We previously covered Kongor Studios unveils $100,000 Heroes of Newerth tournament, which shows the studio is already trying to seed an esports scene around the comeback.
What the open beta will include
The public test is set to show the core of what Kongor Studios plans for a full release. Key points to watch for:
- Launch date and platform – Open beta begins November 11, 2025, and the game will be available only through the Juvio client at launch, not on Steam or other third-party stores.
- Performance upgrades – Promised 100-tick servers and low-latency netcode aimed at improving responsiveness and the competitive experience.
- Visuals and audio – Models, effects, sounds, and the UI have been remade while trying to keep the original HoN style intact.
- Hero roster – Around 80+ heroes at launch, down from the original roster of 116, with more planned post-launch. Some heroes ported from other MOBAs may be missing initially.
- Role queue – Players can select preferred roles before matchmaking to help balance team comps and lane assignments.
- New map mechanics – Additions such as a Phoenix boss that grants teamwide gold, a Phoenix egg that prevents death, Ravens for scouting, and scripted Kongor lane pushes.
- Taunts and emotes – HoN keeps its notorious taunting culture with emotes and in-game taunts returning as a gameplay-adjacent feature.
There are still gaps in the public info: no official anti-cheat partner has been announced, no detailed anti-smurf plan is available, and the long-term monetisation approach beyond Genesis supporters is unclear.
Why some players are wary
Any attempt to revive a cult classic invites nostalgia and suspicion in equal measure. Two friction points keep coming up in community discussions.
Platform choice – Juvio, the rebranded iGames client, will host HoN Reborn exclusively. The studio has said the Juvio Wallet is a store credit system and not crypto, but the platform’s early messaging raised eyebrows. Choosing not to launch on Steam or Epic will limit discoverability on day one.
Personnel and history – Marc “Maliken” DeForest, a divisive figure from HoN’s past, appears tied to the Juvio project on LinkedIn as executive producer. His association and iGames’ earlier reputation are central to the distrust some veterans express. The community split is visible and loud; forum threads and Discord channels are full of skeptics and hopefuls in equal measure.
Another common complaint is the tension between modernising HoN and preserving the original’s hardcore feel. Kongor Studios argues changes are needed to attract new players as well as retain returning ones, while some long-term players worry too much will be altered.
Community feedback during the open beta will matter. If Kongor Studios listens and responds quickly, that could calm a lot of the early concerns; if not, the beta may confirm skeptics’ fears.
For a direct look at the announcement, the HoN account posted a countdown message about the open beta.
🔥 Heroes, the countdown starts now 🔥
The wait is finally over, so mark your calendar. HoN Reborn opens its gates to Newerth for ALL players this November 11.
Before the gates open, make sure you’re ready:
✅ Sign up now for an account at https://t.co/ShhkzvE2tJ
💎 Final… pic.twitter.com/zyerK9EpbJ— Heroes of Newerth (@heroesofnewerth) October 22, 2025
Join the discussion and follow us on X, Bluesky, and YouTube.
