We're excited to unveil the first-ever Ark Nova Digital Championship Series, a multi-stage competition that will give players the opportunity to compete against the best players in the game and ultimately qualify for the Ark Nova World Championship next year in Berlin!
Before the official qualifiers begin, we are hosting an open Test Event using the same structure as the Championship Qualifiers.
Thursday, 8/27: 10am PST - 11pm PST
Friday, 8/28: 10am PST - 1pm PST (Open to the Top 16 from Day 1, actual closing time may vary)
This event will give everyone a chance to experience the format and help us prepare for the season ahead. This will also be your opportunity to provide feedback on map selection, game settings, and other event details before the official qualifiers begin. You can report your feedback here on Steam, or join the Dire Wolf Discord where we currently have a dedicated channel for discussion!
To join the Test Event, navigate to the Events tab in the Online modes!
Four open qualifiers will be held, one each month from October through January. Participation is free and open to all players. Map selection will use Advanced Draft with Alternative Maps enabled. Each event will play out as follows:
Complete four games during the event window.
Players earn points based on their placement in each game. At the conclusion of Day 1, the Top 16 players on the leaderboard advance to the playoffs on Day 2.
The Top 16 players will be divided into four games of four players, with each game's winner advancing to the qualifier finals. The winner of the final game earns a spot in the Ark Nova Digital Championship Finals.
Every qualifier features an exclusive participation avatar:
October Qualifier - King Cobra Avatar
November Qualifier - Cheetah Avatar
December Qualifier - African Bush Elephant Avatar
January Qualifier - Bald Eagle Avatar
Players who qualify for the Ark Nova Digital Championship Finals will receive all four avatars, regardless of which qualifier they advanced through.
In January, the four qualifier winners will compete in the Ark Nova Digital Championship Finals. This invite-only event will be streamed live and feature the best players from across the season!
The four qualifier winners will be paired into two semifinal 1v1 games. The winners will advance to a final championship game to determine the Ark Nova Digital Champion!
The Ark Nova Digital Champion will earn an invitation to compete in the Ark Nova World Championship in Berlin, Germany!
Prize package includes:
A seat at the Ark Nova World Championship in Summer 2027
Flight to Berlin
Hotel accommodations during the event
We look forward to seeing players from around the world compete in the inaugural Ark Nova Digital Championship Series. More details, including event dates, will be announced closer to launch.
The road to the Ark Nova World Championship begins now. We can't wait to see who earns their place in Berlin!