True Damage drops the new League of Legends anthem
The soundtrack to competitive gaming just got a major virtual upgrade. Riot Games, the studio behind the massively popular League Of Legends, has announced that the 2026 World Championship anthem will be performed by True Damage, a virtual band formed from in-game champions.
This move signals an exciting evolution in how esports celebrate their pinnacle events. While the first Worlds anthem in 2014 featured pop giants like Imagine Dragons with their synth smash ‘Warriors’, the tradition has already seen a diverse array of talent contribute to the soundtrack, including heavy metal acts, K-pop stars like NewJeans, and hip-hop heavyweights such as Lil Nas X and Zedd.
But for the next chapter, Riot is stepping into the realm of the virtual with True Damage. This animated hip-hop collective will be composed of existing League Of Legends champions: Akali, Qiyana, Senna, Ekko, and Yasuo. The goal is to forge a deeper emotional bond between the players and the characters they compete as.
Creative director Elie Fielding explained the reasoning behind this decision. “In the same way you might spend hundreds of hours listening to your favourite artist, players spend an enormous amount of time with our characters,” he noted. By using an animated artist, Riot aims to let players discover new facets of these champions, moving beyond their established lore.
For instance, the agile assassin Akali is reimagined not just as a deadly blade-wielder, but as a determined young rapper focused on achieving greatness. The music itself, ‘Know My Name‘, is designed to embody this blend of grit and triumph, incorporating darker hip-hop tones balanced with triumphant esports sounds, live drumlines, and brass.
The vocalists bringing this vision to life are equally compelling. True Damage debuted with ‘Giants’ in 2019, featuring voices like Becky G and Soyeon. For the upcoming anthem, the lineup is refreshed, with Vic Mensa taking on the role of Ekko and Grammy-winning R&B singer Coco Jones stepping in for Senna. Jones brought a powerful sense of confidence and intentionality to her portrayal of the Wraith, emphasizing the character’s journey.
This collaboration underscores a broader philosophy: that music and gaming can create shared, meaningful experiences. As one representative put it, artists collaborating with games for these moments offer a unique platform to find fans, allowing players to discover new artists and the music to open doors to new games.
Ultimately, the intention behind ‘Know My Name‘ is more than just hype for the tournament. Riot wants the anthem to serve as an inspirational boost, encouraging players to push toward their goals and recognize that there are multiple paths to success.
The new anthem Know My Name is set to arrive on October 8, offering a potent blend of hip-hop energy and competitive spirit as the League of Legends Worlds approaches.
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