The Sound of Champions: Why Valorant’s New Anthem Marks a Return to Metal Roots

By Lauren Bergin
August 12, 2026

Riot Games has long occupied a unique space in the intersection of competitive esports and high-fidelity music production. Since the inception of the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT), the annual tournament anthem has functioned as more than just background noise for sizzle reels; it has become a cultural touchstone that defines the identity of each competitive season. However, for many long-term fans, recent entries have drifted away from the genre-defining sounds that first solidified the game’s musical reputation.

That is set to change. With the announcement of the official anthem for VCT Champions Shanghai, "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight," Riot is pivoting back to the gritty, high-octane metal roots that defined the early era of Valorant’s soundtrack.

Main Facts: The Powerhouse Trio

The upcoming anthem is the product of a collaborative powerhouse, signaling a major investment in both production value and genre authenticity. The track is helmed by Grabbitz, a producer whose relationship with Riot Games has become synonymous with the "Valorant sound." Grabbitz is the creative force behind legendary tracks like "Ticking Away," "Fire Again," and "Die For You," all of which are widely considered the gold standard for the franchise’s musical library.

For "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight," Grabbitz has brought in two titans of the modern metal scene:

• Oli Sykes: The frontman of Bring Me The Horizon, marking his debut collaboration with Riot Games.
• Courtney LaPlante: The vocalist of Spiritbox, returning to the Riot ecosystem following her previous contribution to the 2XKO anthem, "Tie That Bind."

The track promises to bridge the gap between electronic soundscapes and aggressive, heavy metal landscapes, aiming to recapture the visceral excitement that defined the 2023 VCT season.

Chronology of a Musical Legacy

To understand the significance of this release, one must look at the evolution of Riot’s musical identity over the last five years.

The Golden Era (2021–2023)

In the early days of Valorant esports, Riot established a clear sonic identity. Tracks like "Die For You" were characterized by a blend of synth-heavy electronic elements and soaring, emotional vocal performances. This era was defined by the 2023 anthem, "Ticking Away," which resonated deeply with the community. It managed to balance competitive stakes with a melodic hook that felt both epic and deeply personal.

The Experimental Shift (2024–2025)

As the VCT expanded globally, the musical direction began to fluctuate. Recent years saw a departure from the melodic metal influence toward more rap-centric, beat-driven compositions. While tracks like "Sacrifice" by G.E.M. and "Heavy is the Crown" (featuring Linkin Park) brought massive mainstream attention, they sparked a polarizing debate within the community. For a subset of the audience, these tracks lacked the "grit" and "power-anthem" energy that defined the game’s initial ascent.

The Return to Form (2026)

With "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight," the narrative arc of the VCT anthem returns to its origins. By enlisting artists from the metalcore and alternative metal scenes, Riot is acknowledging the preference of a significant portion of its player base, effectively closing the loop on the experimental period and returning to the "hell yes" energy that has become the hallmark of the game’s most memorable moments.

Supporting Data: Why the "Metal" Formula Works

The appeal of the Grabbitz-led anthems is not merely anecdotal; it is rooted in the psychological design of competitive gaming. Valorant, as a tactical shooter, requires a state of high arousal and focus.

Data from community polls and streaming platform engagement consistently show that anthems with high-tempo, heavy-instrumentation scores correlate with higher "hype" metrics. When Riot leans into distorted guitars and powerful, raspy vocals, the music aligns with the high-stakes nature of professional play.

• Genre Resonance: The synergy between heavy metal and competitive gaming is well-documented. The high BPM and aggressive tone of metal music mirror the "clutch" moments of a round, where adrenaline is at its peak.
• The Grabbitz Factor: Grabbitz’s production style is uniquely suited to Valorant’s aesthetics. His ability to fuse electronic production—which mirrors the digital/future-tech aesthetic of the game’s "Alpha and Omega" lore—with traditional rock instrumentation provides a sonic bridge that keeps the music feeling modern yet grounded.

Official Responses: Bridging Worlds

The collaboration represents a massive undertaking in cross-continental production. In a recent statement regarding the project, Grabbitz expressed his excitement for the creative process:

"Oli, Courtney, and I came together from different corners of the globe, and landed on a track that sits effortlessly between my electronic world and the heavy landscapes of Bring Me The Horizon and Spiritbox. The three of us just clicked—and the result is, what I believe, to be the best Valorant anthem to date."

For Sykes and LaPlante, this project represents an opportunity to influence the culture of esports on a global scale. By merging their respective fanbases with the massive reach of the VCT, they are helping to cement Valorant as a premier destination for music-industry crossovers, moving beyond simple "marketing tie-ins" toward legitimate artistic collaboration.

Implications: The Future of the VCT

The release of "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight" is scheduled to precede the VCT Champions Shanghai, which runs from Thursday, September 24, through Sunday, October 18, 2026.

Elevating the Esports Spectacle

The implications for the upcoming tournament are significant. A strong anthem serves as the heartbeat of the event, playing during player walkouts, match breaks, and the inevitable highlight reels. With fan-favorite organizations like Paper Rex and EDward Gaming already locked in for the event, the atmosphere in Shanghai is expected to be electric. The choice of a high-energy metal track is clearly intended to match the intensity of the live crowd and the stakes of the championship trophy.

Setting a New Benchmark

If this track succeeds in reinvigorating the community’s enthusiasm for VCT music, it will likely set a new benchmark for Riot’s future musical strategy. For years, the developer has flirted with various genres, but the "metal anthem" has proven to be the most successful at fostering a sense of community identity.

Should this collaboration reach the heights of "Die For You" or "Ticking Away," it will signal to Riot’s music team that the audience values the "gritty, power-metal" aesthetic above all else. This could pave the way for more metal-focused collaborations in the future, further distinguishing Valorant’s brand from the more pop-oriented sounds often found in other esports titles.

Final Thoughts

As we approach September, the anticipation for both the tournament and the anthem is palpable. For those who felt the previous years’ anthems lacked a certain "bite," this collaboration feels like a direct answer to their feedback. Whether you are a fan of Bring Me The Horizon, a devotee of Grabbitz’s production, or simply a Valorant player who misses the sound of a good, heavy riff before a grand final, "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight" promises to be a defining moment in the 2026 season.

The sun may be burning out, but for the competitive Valorant scene, the fire is only just beginning to roar again.