Heavy Metal Meets Esports: Bring Me The Horizon Frontman Oli Sykes Headines Riot Games’ VCT Champions 2026 Anthem

By Craig Robinson, Senior Editor
Published: August 12, 2026

Executive Overview

The worlds of heavy music and elite competitive gaming are set to collide once more in a massive cultural crossover. Riot Games has officially announced that Oliver Sykes—the iconic frontman of British metalcore heavyweights Bring Me The Horizon (BMTH)—is making his debut within the ever-expanding Riot Games music universe. Sykes is headlining the official VCT Champions 2026 anthem, collaborating alongside Spiritbox powerhouse vocalist Courtney LaPlante and multi-platinum producer Grabbitz.

Titled "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight," the highly anticipated single was written and produced entirely by Grabbitz. The track is scheduled for a global release across all major streaming platforms this autumn, serving as the sonic centerpiece for the upcoming VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026 Finals.

This collaboration represents a milestone for both the esports and music industries. For Sykes, it marks his first official foray into the tactical shooter ecosystem, cementing Bring Me The Horizon’s enduring cultural crossover appeal. For LaPlante, it is a continuation of her growing partnership with Riot Games following her recent work on 2XKO. Meanwhile, Grabbitz cements his legacy as the architect of VALORANT’s most definitive musical moments, having helmed multiple iconic anthems over the years.

Detailed Chronology and Collaborative Genesis

The journey toward "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight" represents a masterclass in cross-continental and cross-genre coordination. Written and produced by Grabbitz, the track bridges distinct sonic worlds: the ethereal, crushing electronic-metal landscapes of Grabbitz’s production, the ferocious melodic metalcore of Bring Me The Horizon, and the searing, dynamic vocal delivery of Spiritbox.

According to the artists involved, the track was built from the ground up to reflect the high-stakes, dramatic intensity of international VALORANT competition. Grabbitz, speaking on the creative process, noted that bringing together three artists from entirely different corners of the globe resulted in what he believes is the strongest VALORANT anthem to date. The production delicately balances massive synth-driven electronic soundscapes with down-tuned, aggressive guitar tones and soaring vocal choruses tailored specifically to Sykes’s and LaPlante’s vocal ranges.

For Sykes, the partnership feels like a natural evolution of a lifelong affinity for gaming and digital culture. Reflecting on the announcement, industry observers and fans alike have noted the poetic irony of a musician who spent formative years immersed in gaming culture now headlining the world’s premier tactical shooter championship.

Courtney LaPlante’s involvement adds another layer of pedigree to the track. Having previously collaborated with Riot Games on the fighting game 2XKO, LaPlante bridges the gap between Riot’s various gaming franchises. Furthermore, her established touring relationship with Bring Me The Horizon—having shared stages with Sykes around the globe—provided an existing creative chemistry that translated seamlessly into the recording studio.

Supporting Context & Metrics: Grabbitz and Riot’s Musical Legacy

To understand the magnitude of "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight," one must look at the rich history of Riot Games’ musical endeavors. Over the past decade, Riot has transformed from a purely game-development studio into a powerhouse cultural entertainment brand, largely driven by its high-production-value music releases for League of Legends and VALORANT.

Grabbitz is no stranger to this ecosystem. "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight" marks his fourth major collaboration within the VALORANT franchise, solidifying his status as the definitive musical voice of the game. His previous contributions have achieved staggering commercial and cultural success:

• "Die For You" (2021): The inaugural anthem that established the sonic identity of the early VCT Champions era.
• "Fire Again" (2022): A high-octane collaboration featuring pop-alternative artist Ashnikko.
• "Ticking Away" (2023): A melodic, emotional powerhouse track featuring genre-bending artist bbno$.

Collectively, Grabbitz’s prior three VALORANT anthems have amassed over 350 million streams worldwide, cementing a high benchmark that "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight" is poised to shatter.

Beyond Grabbitz’s catalog, Riot Games has a storied history of bridging rock, metal, and alternative music with competitive esports. Notable past collaborations include working with the newly reformed Linkin Park, pop-punk staples Against The Current, stadium-rock giants Imagine Dragons (creators of the Emmy-winning League of Legends tie-in song "Enemy"), and genre-defying superstars like Lil Nas X. By bringing Oliver Sykes into the fold, Riot continues its tradition of subverting expectations and aligning its esports properties with the vanguard of modern alternative music.

Official Statements

The excitement surrounding the release of "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight" was palpable in statements released by the collaborating artists:

"I cannot wait to release this song!" said Spiritbox vocalist Courtney LaPlante. "Oli has given me the opportunity to perform live with BMTH many times over the years, and we’re finally debuting something we worked on together. Grabbitz produced such a great atmosphere and a song tailored to all three of our voices, and Oli went in right away and made it a true collaboration."

Oli Sykes shared his enthusiasm for entering the esports space, noting: "I’ve always been drawn to projects that blur the lines between storytelling and music, so working with Riot Games, alongside Grabbitz and Courtney, and becoming part of the VALORANT World felt like a really natural fit."

Future Outlook: The Road to VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026

The release of "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight" serves as the opening salvo for the culminating event of the competitive VALORANT calendar: the VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026 Finals.

Scheduled to run from September 24th to October 18th, 2026, the tournament will gather the top 16 elite teams from around the globe to battle for the ultimate title in international tactical shooter esports. As thousands of fans descend upon Shanghai and millions more tune in via global broadcasts, the anthem will serve as the emotional backdrop to every clutch round, underdog victory, and heart-stopping overtime.

With global streaming platforms hosting the track’s release this autumn, "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight" is positioned to dominate both rock radio and esports playlists alike. For Oli Sykes, Grabbitz, and Courtney LaPlante, this collaboration is more than just a promotional single—it is a celebration of the intersection where high-octane competitive gaming meets world-class heavy music production.