• From world-class esports competition to major game announcements, Honor of Kings delivers a landmark moment at KWC at EWC26.
• Honor of Kings officially unveils Honor of Kings: ACE, an all-new strategic hero card battle game.
• The Honor of Kings booth at gamescom will showcase Honor of Kings, Honor of Kings: World, and Honor of Kings: ACE, while also hosting a dedicated Arena of Valor experience.
MANILA, Philippines, July 30, 2026 — The Honor of Kings World Cup at the Esports World Cup 2026 (KWC at EWC26) officially began today, bringing together 20 of the world’s best teams from 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 announced a major presence at gamescom 2026.
The KWC at EWC26 will run from July 30 to August 8 in Paris, France, as part of the Esports World Cup. The tournament marks a landmark moment, with Honor of Kings and Arena of Valor teams competing on an international stage.
The competition has also expanded its global footprint with new regional representation, welcoming teams from India, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Taiwan region.
KWC AT EWC26 FORMAT AND TOURNAMENT PATCH
With an innovative cross-title format, the KWC at EWC26 will be played on a dedicated Esports World Cup tournament patch based on Honor of Kings Season 15.
The custom version was engineered specifically for elite-level competition. An unprecedented roster of 111 playable heroes will be unlocked, allowing teams to create never-before-seen compositions.
The tournament features three stages.
During the Play-In Stage, eight teams will compete in best-of-three double-elimination matches. They will be divided into two groups of four teams.
The four teams advancing from the Play-Ins will join 12 qualified teams, forming a total of 16 teams for the Group Stage.
Teams will compete in a best-of-three 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 best-of-seven matches. The third-place match will be played as a best-of-five series.
The Global Ban and Pick system will be used throughout all stages, while the Ultimate Battle format will be applied during the Playoffs.
KWC TEAMS
• AG.AL — Title Defender
• Kuaishou Gaming — King Pro League Spring 2026
• Buriram United Esports — RoV Pro League 2026 Summer
• Team Flash — Arena of Glory Spring 2026
• Deep Cross Gaming — Garena Challenger Series Spring 2026
• Team Vitality — Indonesia Kings Laga Spring 2026
• Team Nemesis — Indonesia Kings Laga Spring 2026
• OG Esports — Indonesia Kings Laga Spring 2026
• Aurora Gaming — MY Honor of Kings League Spring 2026
• Geekay Esports — MY Honor of Kings League Spring 2026
• ROC Esports — MY Honor of Kings League Spring 2026
• BOOM Esports — Philippine Kings League Spring 2026
• Titan Esports Club — Philippine Kings League Spring 2026
• Blacklist International — Philippine Kings League Spring 2026
• MIBR.LOS — Honor of Kings Brazil Championship Fall 2026
• Influence Rage — Honor of Kings Brazil Championship Fall 2026
• Virtus.pro — Honor of Kings Major League Spring 2026
• Nongshim RedForce — Honor of Kings Major League Spring 2026
• S8UL Esports — King’s Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier
• Revenant XSpark — King’s Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier
ONSITE ACTIVITIES AT KWC AT EWC26
Fans attending the KWC at EWC26 can enjoy a range of exclusive Honor of Kings activities throughout the event, including:
• KPL Dream Team Showmatch
• Honor of Kings Global Influencers Showmatch
• KPL Teams Meet and Greet
• Honor of Kings IP Trials at the EWC Fanfest
INTRODUCING HONOR OF KINGS: ACE
Honor of Kings officially announced Honor of Kings: ACE at the Esports World Cup.
The new title is an official strategic hero card battler set in the Honor of Kings universe. It will offer seamless cross-platform progression across mobile devices and PC.
The official Honor of Kings: ACE social media channels are now live, 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 confirms that all four Honor of Kings titles will be showcased together for the first time at gamescom 2026, giving players an opportunity to experience the expanding Honor of Kings universe.
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, and become among the first overseas players to try Honor of Kings: ACE.
Honor of Kings: World is an Eastern fantasy multiplayer action role-playing game, while Honor of Kings: ACE is 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
• Become among the first overseas players to try Honor of Kings: ACE
• Meet and interact with cosplayers representing all four titles
• Participate in interactive booth activities and stage challenges
• See special guest appearances
• Receive 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 collectible statues and concept art.
The exhibit will invite 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 registration, visit:
tencent.com/worldsofplay
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HONOR OF KINGS: ACE
Website: honorofkingsace.com
Instagram: instagram.com/honorofkingsace
Facebook: facebook.com/hokaceofficial
X: x.com/HonorofKingsACE
YouTube: youtube.com/@HonorofkingsACE
For more information on Honor of Kings esports news and updates, follow the game’s official social media channels.
