In 2018, the League of Legends World Cup opened in a wonderful way, thanks to an augmented reality concert by a virtual K-pop group called K / DA. The video for the virtual group’s first single, ‘Pop / Stars’, currently has over 360 million views on Facebook, and K / DA inspired its own niche of fandom. Now, in the run-up to this year’s World Cup, the group is back with a new single called “The Baddest.”
You can watch the song in the lyrical video above (it has lyrics in both English and Korean), which includes something of a new sound. The virtual members of K / DA remain the same – it is made of Competition characters Ahri, Evelynn, Akali, and Kai’Sa – but the talent behind them has changed. This time, real K-pop stars Soyeon and Miyeon are joined by American singers Bea Miller and Wolftyla.
In addition to the song, the group will also release an EP later this year featuring what is described as “a wide range of artists” appearing as collaborators. Each character also has a new look that, in all likelihood, is finally available as a skin in the game, just like what happened after the first music video of K / DA.
Music remains a big part of the Competition experience, especially when it comes to the annual esports tournament for tent poles. At last year’s event in Paris, a virtual hip-hop group called True Damage put together a set of three songs using holographic technology. (The virtual bandmates also had clothes designed by Louis Vuitton.)
The 2020 edition of Worlds will take place in Shanghai beginning on September 25, with the championship match – and presumably another notable opening ceremony – to be held at Pudong Football Stadium on October 31.
And speaking of opening ceremonies, despite taking place in an empty arena, the Chinese League of Legends Pro League put on an impressive display today ahead of their summer championship today:
