Game theme songs gain popularity in the music industry

According to the game industry, game companies are actively engaged in the music business using intellectual property rights (IP). The strategy is to increase loyalty and immersion in their games by allowing users to experience music contents that are linked to game characters or worldviews (in-game settings).

Riot Games is one of the most active game companies in the music business. Whenever a LOL World Cup is held, a new theme song is released. When the LOL World Cup was held in Korea last year, the company released a song called "GODS" by K-pop idol NewJeans. Alex Seaver, who worked on a number of LOL World Cup theme songs including "Legend Never Die," worked on the project.

"GODS" received a lot of attention as soon as it was released. It was played 2.6 million times on Spotify in just one day after its release, and the music video for "GODS" surpassed 7.8 million views in 24 hours on YouTube, setting a new record for the most viewed music video of "LoL World Championship" ever. As of the day, the cumulative number of views on YouTube for "GODS" music video exceeded 61.33 million.

Riot Games is also leading the field of "virtual artists" with game characters at the forefront. Following the creation of a virtual girl group "K/DA" in 2018, it unveiled a virtual boy group "Heartsteel" with six LoL characters in October last year. The voices of these characters were voiced by famous singers such as Baekhyun from the group EXO.

"Music is a good way to inform non-game users of the game," a game industry official said. “Game music can be a strategic breakthrough for domestic game companies that are slowing down in the global market.”

Game companies focus on the music business because it eventually becomes a topic and money. Just as Japanese animation made its name in the world with theme songs and background music in the past, game music is also becoming a medium to spread games. According to market research company Industry Research, the global game music market, which was $1.28 billion in 2022, is expected to reach $2.193 billion by 2029.

"In the world of entertainment, music is a universal language that transcends borders and connects people. Game theme songs have the power to evoke emotions and memories, creating a deeper connection with players." - Industry Expert

As a high school student interested in gaming and music, it's fascinating to see how game companies are using music to enhance the gaming experience and expand their reach beyond the gaming community. Whether you're a gamer or a music enthusiast, keep an eye out for the next big game theme song – it might just become your new favorite track.