The 2025 HADO World Cup officially kicked off with a launch ceremony on April 2 at Landmark Center in the North Bund, setting the stage for a high-energy virtual sports carnival slated for May 23–25 at the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal.
HADO, an augmented reality (AR) sport developed by Japan’s meleap Inc., combines real-world motion with virtual gameplay.
Players wear AR headsets and wrist sensors to battle with energy balls in an interactive space. The sport, known for its dynamic, immersive format, is gaining global traction and is set to return with its largest and most international edition to date.
District Party Secretary Li Qian, Hongkou District Director Lu Ming, and HADO founder Fukuda Hiroshi joined other officials and industry leaders at the opening event.
The ceremony featured a strategic partnership signing with sponsors and a showcase match by elite HADO players, giving attendees a glimpse of the sport’s high-octane appeal.
This year’s event will be the first HADO World Cup hosted outdoors and in a linguistically and culturally diverse setting. Players from over 20 countries and regions are expected to participate. The competition will anchor a broader immersive festival that blends AR sports, e-sports, pop culture, and brand activations, creating a multifaceted experience for visitors and fans.
Organizers plan to build a HADO Global Open experience zone at the venue, allowing the public to test the sport firsthand. A tech-forward trend fair and international food court will also be featured, offering a cross-cultural social hub for attendees.
Since launching in 2017, the HADO World Cup has been held three times. The brand entered China in 2023 with its Chinese headquarters established in Hongkou District. In 2024, it opened the global flagship “HADO ARENA” in the North Bund’s Landmark Center, spanning over 2,000 square meters.
Looking ahead, HADO plans to expand into China’s professional sports scene by establishing a nationwide league system and recruiting its first wave of domestic clubs. The goal is to explore a hybrid development model of “virtual sports + professionalization,” while contributing to the growth of China’s digital sports ecosystem.