StarCraft 2 Won't be at EWC
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21 January 2026 08:26
The Esports World Cup just finalized its massive 2026 game roster, and the news hit the real-time strategy community like a ton of bricks. With the addition of Trackmania as the final title making its debut in Riyadh this summer, StarCraft II has been left off the list entirely. For the first time since the event launched, no RTS game will be part of the competition.
The official announcement came earlier this week when the Esports World Cup Foundation confirmed Trackmania's inclusion through a multi-year deal with Ubisoft Nadeo. That completed the 24-game lineup for the July 6 to August 23 event, featuring heavy hitters like Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Dota 2, VALORANT, Fortnite, and more. Trackmania brings high-speed racing to the mix with a $500,000 prize pool and a 32-player format.
But for longtime StarCraft II supporters, the excitement around the new addition quickly turned to disappointment. The game had been a staple at the previous two Esports World Cups, providing a major platform and big prize money that helped sustain the scene amid other challenges. Without it or any replacement RTS title, fans are worried about the future of competitive StarCraft.
Reactions poured in fast on social media. Prominent commentator Kaelaris shared his raw feelings about the snub."I was already having a rough day but no StarCraft at EWC hurts.I suspect that also means I won’t be doing any SC2 in 2026 since that was the only place nowadays that fancies taking a desk host for the game. Despite getting to do it at EWC last year, effectively to me it feels like a part of my life perished and I feel like I’m almost in mourning for that aspect of my world. It’s not been easy for my brain to get over it. That’s as best I can describe it at least."Creator and caster Simon "Lowko" Heijnen echoed the sentiment, highlighting recent growth in the community.
"Very sad to not have StarCraft 2 or any other RTS game at the EWC this year. Especially considering views and interest has been up noticeably compared to a few years ago."
Many in the RTS space point out that the Esports World Cup had become one of the few remaining high-profile international stages for StarCraft II. Losing it feels like another tough setback after years of fluctuating tournament support and interest levels.
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21 January 2026 08:26
The Esports World Cup just finalized its massive 2026 game roster, and the news hit the real-time strategy community like a ton of bricks. With the addition of Trackmania as the final title making its debut in Riyadh this summer, StarCraft II has been left off the list entirely. For the first time since the event launched, no RTS game will be part of the competition.
The official announcement came earlier this week when the Esports World Cup Foundation confirmed Trackmania's inclusion through a multi-year deal with Ubisoft Nadeo. That completed the 24-game lineup for the July 6 to August 23 event, featuring heavy hitters like Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Dota 2, VALORANT, Fortnite, and more. Trackmania brings high-speed racing to the mix with a $500,000 prize pool and a 32-player format.
But for longtime StarCraft II supporters, the excitement around the new addition quickly turned to disappointment. The game had been a staple at the previous two Esports World Cups, providing a major platform and big prize money that helped sustain the scene amid other challenges. Without it or any replacement RTS title, fans are worried about the future of competitive StarCraft.
Reactions poured in fast on social media. Prominent commentator Kaelaris shared his raw feelings about the snub."I was already having a rough day but no StarCraft at EWC hurts.I suspect that also means I won’t be doing any SC2 in 2026 since that was the only place nowadays that fancies taking a desk host for the game. Despite getting to do it at EWC last year, effectively to me it feels like a part of my life perished and I feel like I’m almost in mourning for that aspect of my world. It’s not been easy for my brain to get over it. That’s as best I can describe it at least."Creator and caster Simon "Lowko" Heijnen echoed the sentiment, highlighting recent growth in the community.
"Very sad to not have StarCraft 2 or any other RTS game at the EWC this year. Especially considering views and interest has been up noticeably compared to a few years ago."
Many in the RTS space point out that the Esports World Cup had become one of the few remaining high-profile international stages for StarCraft II. Losing it feels like another tough setback after years of fluctuating tournament support and interest levels.
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