Every year ahead of the League of Legends World Championship, developer Riot tries to get everyone excited with a new song. This year’s anthem is called “Burn It All Down” from American band Pvris, and it definitely fits into the tradition of music to get players amped up. But it also comes with a bonus: a music video that turns some of the game’s best players into anime heroes. (Journalist Ashley Kang has a great thread detailing who is who.) It’s the kind of short that makes you want a full League esports anime, and it even transitions to a 3D art style at the end, in a nod to the upcoming Netflix series Arcane.
This year’s iteration of Worlds will take place in Iceland starting October 5th; it was originally slated for China but was forced to move due to pandemic-related restrictions. Even if you aren’t into competitive League, it’s usually worth tuning in for a bit to see the technical wizardry on display. Last year featured a virtual stage built using the same tech behind The Mandalorian, and past opening ceremonies have showcased concerts using holograms and augmented reality.
