Wed Oct 15 04:40:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Maria Egan, Riot Games’ Global Head of Music, discusses the company’s approach to music, particularly its World Championship anthems. She emphasizes that Riot prioritizes creating exceptional experiences and stories over purely financial gains, believing that player engagement and love for their universes will naturally follow. The annual Worlds anthem, exemplified by the new song “Sacrifice” for the 2025 Championship in China, serves as a thematic anchor for the competition, honoring the sacrifices of professional players and aiming to resonate culturally beyond the game itself. Riot strategically selects artists like G.E.M. (for the Chinese audience) and previously Linkin Park and New Jeans, considering their connection to the host country and the potential for a powerful live performance at the Opening Ceremony. Egan highlights that Riot’s commitment to quality and artistic integrity has elevated the Worlds stage to a sought-after platform for artists, fostering collaborations driven by mutual respect and creative vision. They aim to deliver the best experience for their players, recognizing the anthem is received differently each year, they tailor the overall presentation based on the artists and location.
**News Article:**
**Riot Games: Music is ‘A Gift’ to League of Legends, VALORANT Players**
*Los Angeles, CA* – Riot Games continues to push the boundaries of esports and entertainment with its unique approach to music, particularly its World Championship anthems. In an interview with Sheep Esports, Maria Egan, Global Head of Music at Riot Games, revealed the company’s creative philosophy behind these anthems, highlighting that their focus is firmly on creating meaningful experiences for players over chasing profits.
The latest anthem, “Sacrifice,” was released just before the 2025 League of Legends World Championship in China, and is intended to set the tone for the competition and resonate far beyond the League of Legends fanbase.
“It’s almost a spiritual mission,” Egan said. She noted that creative decisions at Riot are never based on what will make the most money. Rather, it’s the belief that creating worlds and characters players deeply connect with will foster engagement naturally.
Egan underscored the importance of carefully selecting artists who resonate with specific regions, as seen with the selection of G.E.M. for the China-hosted 2025 Championship. She highlighted that Riot chooses artists who had a deep resonance with players in their home contry; Linkin Park had that for American and European players, while New Jeans had that in Korea. She notes, “What would thrill those tens of thousands of people in the stadium? What would thrill all those kids watching at home?”
The annual anthem has become a hallmark of the World Championship, weaving together themes of sacrifice, struggle, and the pursuit of excellence. Beyond its thematic significance, the song’s live performance at the opening ceremony is now a key component. Egan explains that they make the OC “one of the most spectacular of all time because we’re in China, and China loves spectacle.”
Riot’s commitment to artistic integrity and quality has elevated the Worlds stage. Egan believes that they’ve gotten to the place where being on the world stage is an honor for an artist. She notes how they work to foster collaborations based on mutual respect and creative vision.
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