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| (Image Source: HIPTHER Gaming And Entertainment Europe/Level Infinite) |
The Honor of Kings World Cup at the eSports World Cup 2026 (KWC at EWC26) officially kicked off, bringing together 20 of the world's best teams from both Honor of Kings (HoK) and Arena of Valor (AoV) for the pinnacle of international competition. Alongside world-class eSports action, Honor of Kings also unveiled Honor of Kings: ACE, an all-new strategy hero card battler and a major presence at gamescom 2026.
The KWC at EWC26, now running until August 8, 2026 in Paris, France, marks a landmark moment with Honor of Kings and Arena of Valor teams competing on an international stage. The KWC at EWC26 has also expanded its global footprint with new regional representation, welcoming teams from India, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Taiwan region. With an innovative cross-title format, the KWC at EWC26 is played on a dedicated eSports World Cup tournament patch built on Honor of Kings Season 15, a custom version engineered specifically for elite-level competition. An unprecedented roster of 111 playable heroes are unlocked, allowing never-before-seen team compositions. The KWC at EWC26 features three stages. The Play-In Stage sees eight teams compete in BO3 double-elimination matches, divided into 2 groups of 4 teams. The 4 teams advancing from the Play-ins will join the other 12 qualified teams, forming a total of 16 teams for the Group Stage. The teams will compete in a BO3 double-elimination format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Playoffs. The tournament will conclude with an eight-team single-elimination Playoff, featuring BO7 matches, except for the third-place match, which will be played as a BO5. The Global Ban & Pick will be used throughout all stages of the tournament with the Ultimate Battle format applied during the Playoffs. Now competing for the KWC championship title are defending champion AG.AL, Kuaishou Gaming (King Pro League Spring 2026 - KPL), Buriram United eSports (RoV Pro League 2026 Summer - RPL), Team Flash (Arena of Glory Spring 2026 - AOG), Deep Cross Gaming (Garena Challenger Series Spring 2026 - GCS), Team Vitality (Indonesia Kings Laga Spring 2026 - IKL), Team Nemesis (Indonesia Kings Laga Spring 2026 - IKL), OG eSports (Indonesia Kings Laga Spring 2026 - IKL), Aurora Gaming (MY Honor of Kings League Spring 2026 - MKL), Geekay eSports (MY Honor of Kings League Spring 2026 - MKL), ROC eSports (MY Honor of Kings League Spring 2026 - MKL), BOOM eSports (Philippine Kings League Spring 2026 - PKL), Titan eSports Club (Philippine Kings League Spring 2026 - PKL), Blacklist International (Philippine Kings League Spring 2026 - PKL), MIBR.LOS (Honor of Kings Brazil Championship Fall 2026 - CHOKBR), Influence Rage (Honor of Kings Brazil Championship Fall 2026 - CHOKBR), Virtus.pro (Honor of Kings Major League Spring 2026 - KML), Nongshim RedForce (Honor of Kings Major League Spring 2026 - KML), S8UL eSports (King's Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier), and Revenant XSpark (King's Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier). On the other hand, fans attending the KWC at EWC26 can enjoy a range of exclusive Honor of Kings activities throughout the event including a KPL Dream Team Showmatch, HOK Global Influencers Showmatch, Meet & Greet with KPL Teams, and HOK IP Trials at EWC Fanfest.
Introducing Honor of Kings: ACE
During the eSports World Cup, Honor of Kings officially announced Honor of Kings: ACE, the official strategy hero card battler set in the Honor of Kings universe, offering seamless cross-platform progression across mobile and PC. The official Honor of Kings: ACE social media channels are now live which coincided with the game's announcement, providing players with the latest news, gameplay reveals, and future development updates. New content will also be shared across all official Honor of Kings channels. The announcement also confirms that all four Honor of Kings titles will be showcased together for the very first time at gamescom 2026, giving players an unprecedented opportunity to experience the expanding Honor of Kings universe. For more information on Honor of Kings: ACE, visit the game's official website at honorofkingsace.com, @honorofkingsace on Instagram, @hokaceofficial on Facebook, @HonorOfKingsACE on X (formerly Twitter), and @HonorOfKingsACE on YouTube.
Honor Of Kings At gamescom
At gamescom, players can jump back into Honor of Kings and Arena of Valor, experience the latest build of the upcoming Honor of Kings: World, an Eastern Fantasy Multiplayer Action RPG, and be among the first overseas players to go hands-on with the brand-new Honor of Kings: ACE, a strategic hero card battle game. The Honor of Kings booth at gamescom 2026 will allow players to go hands-on with all four Honor of Kings titles, be among the first overseas players to try Honor of Kings: ACE, meet and interact with cosplayers from all four titles, take part in interactive booth activities and stage challenges with special guest appearances, and pick up exclusive event giveaways.
Worlds Of Play: The Game Art Exhibition
Beyond gamescom, Honor of Kings will participate in Worlds Of Play: The Game Art Exhibition, joining more than 20 leading game studios in celebrating the artistry of video games. The exhibition will feature an immersive Eastern fantasy-inspired installation showcasing exclusive Dunhuang-themed artwork, a monumental Li Bai "White Phoenix" sculpture, and a curated collection of collectable statues and concept art, inviting visitors to explore the artistic vision behind the Honor of Kings universe. Registration for “Worlds of Play: The Game Art Exhibition” is now open. Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited. For more information and to register, visit tencent.com/worldsofplay.
