In their
August 11 DevBlog, Riot Games quietly slipped in, right at the end of the video, the news the entire community had been waiting for: the release date of the official Worlds 2025 anthem. As tradition dictates, the track will drop a few days before the tournament kicks off — on
Friday, October 10, 2025 — with the competition officially starting on
Tuesday, October 14.
This year’s edition will carry a special flavor, as the 2025 Worlds will be held in China, returning to a host country that has often delivered the event on a spectacular scale — from grandiose opening ceremonies to unmatched production value. The last time Worlds took place there was in 2020 in Shanghai, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which imposed heavy restrictions. Even so, the final was played in front of over 33,000 people. Before that, the 2017 edition brought the competition to Beijing, with a final in front of 80,000 fans and a show that has since become legendary.
With this backdrop, expectations are high for an anthem designed to match the atmosphere, energy, and imagination that the Chinese competitive scene inspires. Over the years, Riot has used these tracks to set the tone for each Worlds — from the
cinematic storytelling of Rise in 2018, to the emotionally charged
Burn It All Down in 2021. Each release carries its own identity, often reflecting the host region’s culture or competitive spirit.
Last year’s Worlds anthem was met with widespread acclaim, marking a return to rock roots. With the competition hosted in Europe for that edition, Riot Games had the opportunity to collaborate with Linkin Park, making their comeback alongside new vocalist Emily Armstrong,
on the track Heavy is the Crown. The song left a lasting impression, once again bringing a major Western act into the spotlight — ten years after Imagine Dragons performed
Warriors in 2014, the first true Worlds anthem and one that has since become iconic.
