- CORTIS' GO! joins the NBA 2K26 Beats Season 4 soundtrack, following its previous Fortnite participation.
- The band debuted in 2025 and soon topped 300M Spotify streams with their first EP.
- CORTIS will take part in the NBA Crossover Concert at NBA All-Star 2026 as an official "Friend of the NBA."
CORTIS, a South Korean boy band, has landed a spot on the NBA 2K26 Beats Official Soundtrack Season 4. The group's agency, BigHit Music, announced on Jan 28, 2026, that they achieved this milestone with their powerful number GO! (2025). Following the song's previous appearance as an Emote animation in Fortnite, the new collaboration indicates yet another point of intersection between K-pop and the global gaming culture. Notably, CORTIS’ senior labelmates BTS and TXT were also associated with Fortnite Emote animation, owing to their songs Dynamite (2020) and Over the Moon (2024), respectively.
K-pop Enters NBA 2K26 Soundtrack with CORTIS
NBA 2K26, the newest installment in the long-running basketball simulation franchise, updates its licensed soundtrack every season with curated music that appears both in-game and on streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify. Previous seasons have featured famous hip-hop artists like Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, the Creator, highlighting the franchise's popularity as a cultural music platform.
Notably, other songs joining CORTIS for the latest season include No Cap (2025) by Disclosure and Anderson.Paak, Let Her Cook (2024) by Glorilla, Satin (2025) by Devin Donnell, and Run It Up (feat. Avery Harden) (2024) by Steven Joseph.
NBA 2K26 was a top-selling game in the U.S. in Aug 2025 owing to the early access provided. According to Circana data cited by various industry publications, the early access was reportedly sufficient to dominate U.S. game sales for the entire month in dollar terms. NBA 2K26 has sold over 613,000 units on Steam since its global Sep 2025 release. According to market statistics, the game has over 706,000 owners and generated about $26.9 million USD in gross revenue from Steam alone.
Global Debut Success of the BigHit Rookie Band
CORTIS, a group established by BigHit Music in 2025, has been rapidly rising in the Western entertainment sectors. The members of the band, James, Juhoon, Martin, Seonghyeon, and Keonho, made their debut with the digital song What You Want in Aug 2025, followed by their first EP Color Outside the Lines on Sep 8 of the same year.
The Color Outside the Lines EP, which focuses on musical experimentation and member interaction, crosses genres from hip-hop to psychedelic rock. Members are acknowledged not just as performers, but also as songwriters and producers throughout the project, which is a remarkable feat for any rookie group in the strictly controlled K-pop industry.
GO! was the project's intro song and stood out for its contagious rhythm and motivational tone, both of which are naturally suited to sports and gaming environments. The track's inclusion in both Fortnite and NBA 2K26 has broadened its appeal to millions of players worldwide.
Global Traction and Youth Appeal Fuel CORTIS’ Rapid Growth
CORTIS' debut EP had reportedly surpassed 300 million total Spotify streams in four months, thus depicting a significant commercial momentum. These accomplishments set the group apart from other bands launched in 2025. As per industry reports, CORTIS also became million-sellers domestically.
The group's fame is further boosted by its youngest member, Keonho, born in 2009. Keonho, in the first half of 2025, dominated social media buzz with many referring to him as the rising idol who is blessed with both visual and artistic appeal.
CORTIS’ inclusion in NBA 2K26 demonstrates how genre-crossing songs have grown to be a part of multimedia cultural landscapes ranging from streaming charts to digital arenas and virtual courts.
CORTIS is also associated with the Friends of the NBA program. This collaboration aims to promote the league throughout the Asia-Pacific area by engaging fans through culture, events, and media. The trio is also the first K-pop act to perform at the NBA Crossover Concert during NBA All-Star 2026 in Los Angeles, integrating sports and music culture.
