Watch: Linkin Park Partners with Riot Games for League of Legends Anthem

Linkin Park is back, boys and girls. Again. This time, they’ve teamed up with Riot Games for “Heavy Is The Crown,” the official anthem for the League of Legends 2024 World Championship. And honestly? It feels like the band pulled this one straight from the “How to Squeeze Money from Nostalgia” handbook. The song? Fine. The video? Whatever. But flashing the Riot Games logo before anything even starts? That’s late-stage capitalism’s love letter to itself.

I know, I know, the band has a right to keep going. Chester Bennington’s death doesn’t mean they have to pack it in forever. But let’s not pretend this is some pure artistic endeavor. Slapping their name onto one of the biggest gaming events of the year screams “business deal” louder than the actual track. But I get it, I like money as well :)

Fans already heard “Heavy Is The Crown” during their recent live shows, so this isn’t even new-new. But now it’s got a fancy tie-in and a video designed to rake in clicks. and if you’re into catching them live, three more dates were tacked onto their “world tour”—a tour that’s about as global as your neighborhood Starbucks. Paris on November 3, Dallas on November 8, and São Paulo on November 15.

And don’t even get me started on the drama swirling around new vocalist Emily Armstrong. Her ties to Scientology? Yikes. Her support for Danny Masterson? Bigger yikes. Add Chester’s family calling out the reunion rollout for trying to “erase” his legacy, and you’ve got more headlines than hype for the actual music.

The album drops November 15. You can preorder it now if you’re feeling brave. The tracklist is out, too, but honestly, it’s hard to care when the vibe screams “focus group-tested.” As for the tour, blink and you’ll miss it. Six cities total. London, Seoul, Paris, Dallas, Bogotá, and São Paulo. That’s it. Maybe they’re allergic to smaller markets. Or effort. C’mon guys.

Linkin Park has always been about evolution—or at least they were. Now? Well, they seem more about collecting checks and crossing their fingers that fans won’t notice. But you know what, if you’re into branded anthems and corporate tie-ins, this might be your jam. For the rest of us, it’s just another reminder that nostalgia is a hell of a business.

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