xikers Set November 2 Comeback With Eighth EP ROUTE ZERO: The CALLING

The ten-member KQ Entertainment group is preparing its eighth mini album, with the announcement arriving weeks before the latest concept images.

A confirmed release date, not a new announcement

xikers are scheduled to release their eighth mini album, ROUTE ZERO : The CALLING, on November 2, 2026, at 6 p.m. Korea Standard Time. KQ Entertainment announced the project in September, with reporting on September 11 confirming its place in the group’s discography. The new round of visual teasers in October has renewed attention on the comeback, but it should not be confused with a new October 15 announcement.

Where the series goes next

The release follows ROUTE ZERO : The ORA, the group’s seventh mini album, which arrived in May. The recurring ROUTE ZERO naming sets up a continuation rather than an isolated title: the concept frames the group around movement, choosing a direction and responding to a call. The tagline, “FOLLOW THE CALLING, INTO THE UNKNOWN,” emphasizes uncertainty and discovery. Whether those narrative ideas translate into the album’s sound will only be clear when the tracks become public.

Why the rollout matters

For a group known for tightly coordinated performance, image teasers are an important part of presenting an era before listeners hear its music. Dark clothing and bold styling in the October photographs suggest a visually forceful campaign, but the styling alone does not establish the songs’ genres. The schedule will also matter for international fans following music-video premieres, performance clips and physical-album distribution across markets.

What fans should check next

The authoritative next checkpoints are the track list, any officially confirmed title track, music-video premiere details and the actual November 2 release. Physical editions are already listed by retailers for that date, while media published before release should continue to describe the record as forthcoming. KWaveScope will distinguish confirmed agency information from predictions when covering the release itself.

Explore xikers on KWaveScope ↗

Editorial note: Scheduled releases, concerts and awards are described as upcoming when not yet held. Reported view and streaming milestones are attributed to their reporting sources.