How Riot Games Built a Music Powerhouse Beyond Gaming
How Riot Games Built a Music Powerhouse Beyond Gaming
From Arcane’s $250M investment to global artist partnerships, Riot Games’ music strategy is reshaping its brand beyond gaming
Highlights
- Riot Games wins Variety’s 2025 Interactive Music in Media Award as it expands investments in original music and global artist collaborations.
- Arcane’s $250M production spend and Netflix’s $3M-per-episode deal highlight Riot’s long-term entertainment strategy beyond gaming.
- Music partnerships with Imagine Dragons, Lil Nas X, Twenty One Pilots, Stray Kids, and more have helped build one of gaming’s most recognizable catalogs.
Riot Games has been named the winner of Variety Interactive Music in Media Award 2025, reflecting its expanding investment in original music and major artist collaborations. The recognition follows Riot’s entertainment push, including $250 million USD spent on producing Arcane and Netflix’s $3M per episode licensing deal, which covered only part of the cost, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Riot’s philosophy centers music in world-building, with Maria Egan, head of global music, saying, “The religion internally at Riot is building all the things that strengthen our community.” She added that, “It’s really important to us that our worlds are sacred and at the foreground of everything we’re making and our stories are supported by the music.”
Riot’s Collaborations Span Imagine Dragons, Lil Nas X, Twenty One Pilots, and More
The company’s catalog has become one of the most recognizable in gaming, supported by partnerships with Imagine Dragons, Linkin Park, Twenty One Pilots, Lil Nas X, Stray Kids, Stromae, Ryan Tedder, BloodPop, and other global contributors.
Its annual League of Legends (LoL) World Championship anthems now serve as cultural tentpoles, with recent performers including NewJeans and G.E.M., who appeared at this year’s ceremony in China.
Arcane further elevated Riot’s music profile, with the series’ soundtracks widely streamed, and Imagine Dragons’ Enemy nearing 2B Spotify streams and over 340M views on YouTube. The second soundtrack volume won the 2025 American Music Award for ‘Favorite Soundtrack,’ surpassing releases from Wicked and Moana 2.
Riot’s in-house composers also continue to produce orchestral work across its franchises. Even with commercial success, the company maintains that musical choices are always narrative-led. “The music’s all in service of our stories and our moments,” Egan said.
Riot Games’ recognition comes as more studios use music to extend their brands, underscoring how integrated soundtracks can expand reach and strengthen fan communities beyond gaming.
Author
Probaho Santra is a content writer at Outlook India with a master’s degree in journalism. Outside work, he enjoys photography, exploring new tech trends, and staying connected with the esports world.
