Millions of people play video games around the world. Millions of people also listen to K-pop all over the world! Consequently, it was only a matter of time before these two worlds collided. Numerous K-pop artists have released songs in collaboration with various video games, from RPGs to first-person shooters. Here are seven songs that any gamer K-pop fan needs to add to their playlist!
“Perfect Night” by Le Sserafim – Overwatch 2
“Perfect Night,” released in October 2023, is a song in collaboration with Blizzard Entertainment’s hit first-person shooter Overwatch 2. In this collaboration, each LE SSERAFIM member received official art of themselves in the Overwatch art style. While Overwatch 2 heroes D.Va, Tracer, Sombra, Kiriko, and Brigitte were dripped out in Le Sserafim merch, available as limited-time purchasable skins. These characters also had purchasable emotes where they could dance to LE SSERAFIM’s hit song “Anti-Fragile”. Merchandise of both the Le Sserafim art and the Overwatch 2 heroes were even sold on Le Sserafim’s official Weverse shop. On top of this, the characters were featured in animation in the music video for “Perfect Night” as they headed to a Le Sserafim concert, providing both Fearnots and Overwatch 2 fans with a special treat. During an in-game Le Sserafim x Overwatch 2 event from November 1st to November 20th, 2023, “Perfect Night” played on the game’s home screen. Throughout this event, players could play a special game mode, fighting over Le Sserafim tickets to earn profile icons, titles, and a Junkrat skin, among other in-game items. Le Sserafim was ultimately invited to perform the song and their other hits at the 2023 Blizzcon, an annual gaming convention celebrating the various franchises by Blizzard Entertainment.
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“Ready For Love” by BlackPink – PUBG Mobile
“Ready For Love” is BlackPInk’s contribution to the game PUBG Mobile, the mobile version of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. This game is a battle royale, where teams compete to be the last one standing. During the collaboration between BlackPink and the video game, players could attend a virtual concert, where players could watch giant models of BlackPink perform the song. Special cosmetics were also available for players to collect, such as skins of BlackPink’s outfits in their “Lovesick Girls” music video. The group first released “Ready For Love” as a single, and then included it in their 2022 album ‘BORN PINK’.
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“Heartbeat” by BTS – BTS World
BTS World was a mobile game released by the company Netmarble in 2019 that ran until December 25th, 2023. In this game, players acted as renowned boy group BTS’s managers throughout their career, interacting with members and collecting various media and storylines of the members. BTS acted out themselves in alternate universes, where they didn’t become global superstars. However, fate still brought them together in every storyline, despite everything. The members convey the sentiment of fate and finding each other in “Heartbeat”. Fans widely regarded the song as one of BTS’s most underrated songs.
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“POP/STARS” by K/DA – League of Legends
Even in virtual worlds, girl groups are all the rage. K/DA is a girl group set in hit game League of Legends, with members Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai’Sa. (G)-Idle’s Miyeon provides the voice for Ahri, while her bandmate Soyeon voices Akali. Additionally, Madison Beer provides the voice for Evelynn, while Jaira Burns voices Akali. Skins for these characters are available for players to purchase in-game. At the 2018 League of Legends World Championship, they performed their viral song “POP/STARS” and subsequently released a music video. K/DA has released an extended play and two more singles since “POP/STARS” due to their popularity with video game fans.
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“GODS” by NewJeans – League of Legends
Since League of Legends is considered one of South Korea’s most popular video games, it’s no surprise that multiple k-pop artists have made songs for the franchise. One of these artists is girl group NewJeans, who stunned both k-pop fans and video game fans alike when they announced the release of their song “Gods” for the game. “Gods” is the official anthem of the 2023 League of Legends World Championship. Fans everywhere enjoyed the EDM sound of “Gods”, a divulgence from NewJeans’s usual R&B tracks. The song follows the journey of South Korean e-sports competitor Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu. Kim won the World Championship in 2022 with team DRX after many adversities.
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“One and Only” by ENHYPEN – Pokémon
“One and Only” was released on July 12th, 2023 for the Pokémon Music Collective, in collaboration with The Pokémon Company. Like the other songs in the Pokémon Music Collective, “One and Only” takes inspiration from the Pokémon video games universe. The music video delightfully portrays each Enhypen member going through their morning routines with a Pokemon buddy, including favorites like Piplup and Pikachu. To celebrate this collab, The Pokémon Company sent a gaggle of Pikachus to perform the song with Enhypen on the Asian leg of the group’s FATE tour.
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“UNDEFEATED” by XG – Valorant
It’s no secret that XG are crazy talented in rap and hip-hop. Perhaps that is why Valorant, a popular tactical first-person shooter, chose XG to contribute the official song for the Asia-Pacific regional segment of the Valorant Champions Tour 2024, “Undefeated”. “Undefeated” is, of course, a hip-hop anthem that speaks of victory earned despite everything stacked against you. The song serves to hype up all players of video games.
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What is your favorite k-pop song made for a video game? Let us know on our Instagram and Twitter!
Feature Image Credit: Taryn R. for POP TOKKI
