Bring the heat: K/DA burning walls between gaming and pop culture

Philippines – For the third time since its debut back at the 2018 Worlds in Incheon, South Korea, and the ALL OUT release back in 2020, Riot Games’ virtual K-pop group K/DA returned once again with another banger titled ‘FIRESTARTER’

Within two weeks since its release, the whole EP hit #1 on the worldwide iTunes Album Chart, enter the YouTube global weekly chart at #9, and peak at #87 on the global Top 200 list chart for Billboard. It also became the highest-charting song from Riot Games on the global Spotify chart.

Feeling the heat

The K/DA craze didn’t just reflect on numerous music charts. From people vibing to the beats to the jaw-dropping dance covers, the reception for K/DA has been lit all over the internet, especially for Akali and Ahri’s artists, Jeon Soyeon and Cho Miyeon of the K-pop group i-dle. Even fans of the P-pop group SB19 are awaiting the group’s official cover of FIRESTARTER on November 10.

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The beloved group captured hearts and ears from all over the world, including people who haven’t played League of Legends and casual music listeners. 

Riot Games and League of Legends: Wild Rift recently celebrated this latest K/DA release with the “FIRE IT UP: The K/DA Comeback Party.”

People across different games and ages enjoyed vibing to the music of the Riot Games music universe, as most of the attendees dressed up to their favorite characters. 

Some of the attendees were also lucky to participate in a live game of AAA ARAM, featuring its newest augments inspired by HEARTSTEEL, Pentakill, and TRUE DAMAGE.

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Additional details for the exclusive, K/DA-inspired skinline for Wild Rift called HEATBRINGER were also showcased at the listening party. It will feature WR-locked game cosmetics for Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai’ Sa, as well as the grand and highly sought-after Prestige K/DA HEATBRINGER Evelynn.

For Coleen Ramos, APAC Publishing Manager for League of Legends: Wild Rift, celebrations like the listening party can be like embers—a glowing reminder of how music and gaming culture burn brightly over time.

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“I think Riot does really well in terms of going beyond and exploring music and also TV series, right? Like Arcane.”

“As I mentioned, as a player, I would like to see not the usual kind of events where people just talk about the game. When we’re planning this, it’s really more about engagement. And because it doesn’t happen often, it does have that effect that people want to go to it as soon as possible,” Ramos shared.

Considering that there were requests for another listening party sent to them, Ramos assured, “If there’s going to be another big music moment, then we already know we need a bigger venue than this.”

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