Watch Linkin Park’s New Video for Their ‘League of Legends’ Anthem

Riot Games has released the official anthem for the 2024 League of Legends World Championship, “Heavy Is the Crown,” by Linkin Park. One day away from the beginning of LoL Esports’ biggest event of the year, Riot has shared the anthem which will accompany the top 20 teams through the highest competition of the year. 

The official confirmation that Linkin Park would perform the 2024 Worlds anthem arrived this Sunday, following speculation that began in early September when LoL Esports’ social media accounts interacted with the band’s comeback announcement. The news was largely well-received by the League community who had high expectations for this year’s anthem following the 2023 hit “GODS” by NewJeans. 

Linkin Park’s reunion has faced some criticism, both from the public and the family of the late singer Chester Bennington, mainly due to new vocalist Emily Armstrong’s association with the Church of Scientology and support of Danny Masterson during his trial for rape in 2021. (He was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years to life.) Although Armstrong has already publicly addressed the matter, stating she “misjudged” Masterson at the time, fans of the band still felt betrayed and many are undecided whether to show support for their favorite band or not.

This doesn’t seem to dim the excitement of League fans for “Heavy Is the Crown,” since as many as 100,000 of them tuned in for the song’s premiere on YouTube today. The band had already performed the song live at their concert in Hamburg last week, but today’s studio performance paired with the official music video officially marks its release.

This year’s music video was created by Brunch Studio and it follows T1, the current world champions, led by Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, as they battle other teams’ representatives to keep their crown. While Faker has appeared in six Worlds anthem music videos before, including “Ignite” (2016), “RISE” (2018), and “GODS” (2023), this is the first time he and his team are taking center stage in the story. 

The video also features an animated version of Linkin Park performing in the throne room, marking a rare appearance as few artists have made appearances in past Worlds anthem music videos, with only Lil Nas X featuring in “Star Walkin’” (2022) and a brief glimpse of Zedd’s hand in “Ignite” (2016). But this isn’t the first time Fortiche Studio has animated a band for Riot, as they previously brought Imagine Dragons to life in the music video for “Enemy,” off the soundtrack for the Netflix show Arcane. 

The 2024 anthem is expected to perform well across platforms, especially considering the success of previous performers like Imagine Dragons, Lil Nas X, Zedd, and NewJeans, whose anthems have collectively garnered more than 10 billion streams across digital service platforms, according to Riot. Linkin Park’s new single, “Emptiness Machine,” has already achieved 96 million listens on Spotify alone within just two weeks, indicating a strong start that bodes well for the performance of the other songs present in the album From Zero, including “Heavy Is the Crown.” However, most LoL Esports fans’ eyes watching the music video are all on T1.

The South Korean team has been a dominant force in the League competitive scene for more than a decade, with a track record that few teams can rival. The team’s journey began in 2013 when they won their first World Championship; Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, who joined T1 that same year, quickly became the face of the team and one of the most known players in the world.

Over the next decade, T1 and Faker continued to build their legacy. They secured two more World Championship titles in 2015 and 2016, becoming the first team to win three Worlds trophies. However, their path wasn’t without setbacks. In 2017, T1 fell short in the World Championship finals, losing to Samsung Galaxy, which marked a rare stumble for the squad. Similar disappointments came in 2022 when they reached the finals again but were defeated by DRX in a stunning five-game series.

Still, T1’s resilience kept them at the top. 

In 2023, 10 years after their first victory, they made an incredible comeback, winning their fourth World Championship in front of a home crowd in Seoul. This victory cemented their place as the most successful team in League of Legends history — no other team has come close to matching their four Worlds titles.

At the center of T1’s success is Faker, who has been with the team through all their highs and lows. Known as the Unkillable Demon King, Faker’s incredible skill, consistency, and leadership have made him a global icon in esports, extending influence beyond the game itself, with many considering him the greatest player in League of Legends history. In 2024, Riot recognized his unparalleled contributions by inducting him into their Hall of Legends as the first-ever honoree, solidifying his status.

The League of Legends World Championship Finals are one of the biggest esports events of the year, drawing millions of viewers globally. But what should convince non-esports fans to tune in is the Opening ceremony, as over the years Riot constructed over-the-top shows that could rival the most eccentric of concerts, transforming the event into a cultural phenomenon. This year’s Finals will take place on Nov. 2 at the O2 Arena in London. While it hasn’t been confirmed, it’s rumored that Linkin Park might perform “Heavy Is the Crown” live, following the tradition of anthems’ artists gracing the stage of the competition before its final moment.