heroes-of-newerth posts

It's happening a little later than planned but today developer S2 Games has released a massive new and free update to its fantasy action-RTS game Heroes of Newerth. The 2.0 update to the title that's greatly inspired by Defense of the Ancients contains a ton of new content and changes.

You can check out detailed patch notes on the game's change log web page. In short, the 2.0 update adds a new Casual gameplay mode, a new 3v3 map to the game, and a new in-game store where players can purchase cosmetic (i.e non-gameplay influencing) items). Other additions and improvements include a revamp of the game's matchmaking system, new interface features, the release of the beta version of the game's map editor and more.

A little while ago we reported on the plans by developer S2 Games to offer up a bunch of new features in its action-RTS game Heroes of Newerth. Today the PC Gamer web site posted up a new YouTube video showing off one of the new features; the game's casual mode.

As you can see above the casual mode is far more forgiving for new players than the fairly hardcore gameplay of the main game. It includes more gold to collect from dead opponents while not losing any gold if you manage to die off during a match. As we mentioned a few days ago, the free update will also include a new map, a revamped matchmaking tool, a level editor and lots more. The 2.0 update should be available later this month.

Since its official launch back in May, Heroes of Newerth has at tracked a loyal player base for developer S2 Games' fantasy action-RTS game. Now comes word that the game will be getting a substantial free upgrade later this month, so much so that it's being called Heroes of Newerth 2.0.

Worthplaying has posted up a preview of the update which will include a number of new features and improvements. One is a new casual mode that will be more forgiving to players (for example you won't lose all your gold when you die). The update will also contain a new 3v3 map, a revamp of the game's matchmaking system, a new in-game item store for cosmetic items and more. The update will also include the launch of the long awaited map editor for the game.

As promised, Valve has announced their plans for a stand alone sequel to the popular Warcraft III fantasy RTS mod Defense of the Ancients. The game is called DOTA 2 and is due out for PC and Mac in 2011. That means Valve will actually be releasing two stand alone commercial games in 2011 (Portal 2 is due out in February).

Game Informer's web site has the first details on DOTA 2 (the web site, as of this writing, is super slow due no doubt to high traffic). Basically the core gameplay behind the original mod version of DOTA will remain the same but it will be using a more advanced version of Valve's Source Engine with improved lighting and support for more realistic cloth animations. There will also be AI bots for skirmishes and training. Valve will also put in community features that will let players get in-game bonuses for things like participating in the game's official forums and there are also plans to allow veteran players to coach less experience players in some way. You can also expect DOTA 2 to be constantly updated with new content much like Valve's Team Fortress 2.

The team at S2 Games launched the commercial version of their fantasy online action-RTS game Heroes of Newerth a few months ago. Today the development team announced that folks can download and play the full version of the game, which normally costs $30, for free for the next week.

The free play period has already begun and will last until Monday, August 9 at 1 pm Eastern time. Since the launch of the commerical version of the game, the team has added new contest patches to Heroes of Newerth including new heroes like the just added Doctor Repulsor. S2 Games is also hiring for new staff positions, saying, "Our plans for the future of HoN and the company will require us to add more talent to the ranks."

Download the Heroes of Newerth Windows Client
Download the Heroes of Newerth Mac Client
Download the Heroes of Newerth Linux Client

The Defense of the Ancients-inspired game Heroes of Neweth launched its commercial version earlier this year and since then the S2 Games-developed title has been updated with new heroes and other new content. If you are one of the many who beta tested the game but didn't get the full commercial version, S2 Games now has a special offer via their Facebook page.

Staring at noon Eastern time on Friday, all old Heroes of Newerth beta accounts will be active once again, allowing those folks to play the full version of the title with all of the new additions. The free play period will end at 11:59 pm Eastern time on Sunday. Also on Friday a major new patch to the game will be released that will add another new hero, the Gladiator, a new item (the Blood Chalice) and more.

Download the Heroes of Newerth Windows Client
Download the Heroes of Newerth Mac Client
Download the Heroes of Newerth Linux Client

The game has been live for just a few weeks but the folks at S2 Games are already adding new content to their multiplayer action-RTS game Heroes of Newerth. You can check out one of the new heroes to the right of this post. It's Bubbles who can "shell toss, teleport, silence, and crowd control team fights."

Another new hero will be added to the game in an official patch by week's end. Tundra can "has a couple of pets that help him gain vision and slow enemies." In addition to new heroes, S2 Games is also about to launch a "Report a Player" feature that it hopes will identify grievers and abusive players that can be suspended or banner.

Tomorrow S2 Games plans to flip a switch and turn their open beta version of their multiplayer action-RTS game Heroes of Newerth into a full $30 commercial game for those players who pre-ordered the game. Today the developer announced that they already have extensive plans to update the game beyond the commercial release.

Look for more new content updates in the future for the game. Those updates will include new game modes, achievements and a mod SDK which wlll allow players to create their own maps and game modes. Look for full support for competitive and tournament play and team matchmaking in the future. Finally S2 Games is launching something that they are calling DREAM. It's a way for players to make their own Heroes of Newerth "heroes", vote for their favorites and perhaps see those heroes put into the game.

In a related story, PC gaming accessory maker SteelSeries has announced plans to sponsor a Heroes of Newerth tournament where teams from around the world will compete in the game for cash prizes. A total of $40,000 in cash will be up for grabs. SteelSeries will also be releasing Heroes of Newerth gaming peripherals in the coming weeks.

It's been in beta testing for nearly a year, but today, S2 Games sends over word that the final retail version of their multiplayer action-RTS game Heroes of Newerth finally has a release date. In face there is even a release time. Heroes of Newerth will launch as a retail game on May 12 at 4 pm Eastern time for $30.

Ahead of the retail release, players in the current beta test will have their stats, rankings and replays purged just beforehand. Starting on May 5, players who purchase the game can claim any nicknames from those beta players who have yet to purchase the title so if you are in the beta and want to keep your nickname you might want to go ahead and buy the game now.

Download Heroes of Newerth Open Beta Client [Windows] (338 MB)
Download Heroes of Newerth Open Beta Client [Mac] (330 MB)
Download Heroes of Newerth Open Beta Client [Linux] (327 MB)

Launched in near stealth mode in mid-2009, S2 Games' multiplayer-themed RTS-action game Heroes of Newerth has become something of an underground success for the developer, who previously released the two games in the Savage RTS-FPS hybrid series. Heroes of Newerth's closed beta was already popular but the free open beta version of the game has already signed up over 2 million players since its release a few weeks ago.

The big question now is can S2 Games retain enough of the players who have checked out the game for free for its $30 commercial version that will officially be released later this year? Big Download got a chance to chat with S2 Games' co-founder Marc DeForest to find out more about their launch and post-launch plans for Heroes of Newerth.