SM Entertainment has announced that girl group Hearts2Hearts will release a new single, titled “Next Chapter,” on October 16.

The song is a collaboration with the video game ‘Arena of Valor,’ which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month. Released in 2016, the game has grown to become one of the biggest online multiplayer battle arena games (MOBAs). It is particularly popular within Asia, with publisher Garena hosting large-scale leagues and tournaments across the continent.

This popularity in Asia makes a K-pop collaboration ideal for the game, placing a focus on the region. The choice of Hearts2Hearts specifically acts as recognition of their swift rise to fame with songs like “FOCUS,” “RUDE!” and “Lemon Tang”; with both “RUDE!” and “Lemon Tang” released in 2026, Hearts2Hearts are building momentum as an emerging act with growing potential to capture audiences across Asia and beyond.

Concept photos for the release have been shared on the group’s social media channels, all of which maintain their signature colourful, “kitsch teen” imagery. A music video teaser provides a short clip of the song itself, which carries a bright tone and features electronic, video game-inspired sound effects. The full music video for “Next Chapter” will be published alongside the song’s release on October 16.

Hearts2Hearts will also participate in the 10th anniversary celebrations in person, set to perform “Next Chapter” at the ‘Arena of the Decade: RoV Pro League 2026 Winter’ esports event in Bangkok on October 23. Beyond the song, the voices of the eight members CARMEN, JIWOO, YUHA, STELLA, JUUN, A-NA, IAN, and YE-ON will be featured in the ‘Arena Valor’ game itself, though in what format is unclear.

Additionally, the group is set to perform the new Korean version of their Japanese release “ICONIC HEART” on Korean music shows this week, following its release on October 5. With each of these promotional periods aligning, Hearts2Hearts will see increased visibility this month as an extension of the successful year they have had so far.

A video game collaboration in particular will place Hearts2Hearts in front of audiences not necessarily familiar with their music and the K-pop genre as a whole. That gives them the chance to gain new fans outside of the spaces where K-pop typically appears. As the video game industry continues to thrive, led both by new games and by the legacy and nostalgia of older games like ‘Arena of Valor,’ a project intertwining it with the growing K-pop industry presents new possibilities for both.

Hearts2Hearts’ “Next Chapter” will be available on streaming services on October 16, 2026.