Heroes of Newerth 3.0 first look

S2 Games is preparing a hefty update for its free-to-play MOBA game, Heroes of Newerth, version 3.0. The developer has released some screenshots highlighting the revamped buildings and textures, as well as a peek at a redesigned hero.

One of the key features of the 3.0 update is the inclusion of lore within the world of HoN. A new trailer sets the stage for the renewed focus on HoN lore.

Heroes of Newerth 3.0 will be launching in early 2013. A seven-figure budget went into developing the update. The promised improvements include:

AI bots, and better training modes for new players through use of AI bots.
30 of the original character models are getting an overhaul.
The map is getting an overhaul, including the buildings, towers, wells, and general textures.
Improvements to user interface, in-game chat, buddy list, and notifications.
Improvements to the “report a player” system.