Image: Linkin Park Official X (Twitter) Account, Riot Games
Could Linkin Park’s ‘Heavy is the Crown’ be the anthem for Worlds 2024?
The anthem for the annual League of Legends (LoL) World Championship is one of the most anticipated announcements each year, and for Worlds 2024, speculation is mounting around a potential comeback from the legendary band Linkin Park.
Riot Games has yet to officially confirm the artist for 2024, but multiple signs seem to suggest Linkin Park’s involvement.
Linkin Park’s comeback and new lead singer
Linkin Park recently returned to the spotlight with a new lineup, featuring Emily Armstrong as lead singer, following the tragic passing of Chester Bennington in 2017. With their comeback album From Zero and a global tour announced last week, the timing of their return aligns perfectly with the upcoming Worlds 2024 event.
"Heavy is the Crown" and Worlds 2024
Adding to the rumours, Linkin Park’s latest album features a track titled "Heavy is the Crown," a title that resonates with the theme Riot Games revealed for the Worlds 2024 anthem on September 9. This has led fans to draw connections between the song and the upcoming League of Legends World Championship.
The @lolesports Twitter account further fueled speculation when it responded to a video of Linkin Park performing their new single “The Emptiness Machine” with a crown emoji. Fans were quick to notice the symbolism and have been piecing together the clues ever since.
Linkin Park’s tour dates and Worlds Anthem release date
One of the strongest indications of Linkin Park’s involvement is their upcoming tour schedule. The band is set to perform at the O2 Arena in London on 24 September — the same day Riot Games is expected to release the Worlds 2024 anthem.
Additionally, the Worlds 2024 Grand Final will take place at the same venue on November 2, leading fans to speculate about a potential live performance during the tournament’s opening ceremony.
This isn’t the first time Riot Games has worked with Linkin Park. In 2021, Mike Shinoda, one of the band’s founding members, appeared at the Arcane Global Premiere.
As a known fan of some of Riot's titles, Shinoda’s involvement in both VALORANT and League of Legends has further stoked excitement about a potential collaboration for Worlds 2024.
Riot Games is no stranger to enlisting major artists for its Worlds anthems. Previous contributors include Imagine Dragons, Zedd, Lil Nas X, and NewJeans, all of whom delivered standout performances that helped set the tone for each tournament.
The Worlds anthem has become a cornerstone of the tournament’s opening ceremony, adding another layer of excitement to the event’s climactic moments.
Will Linkin Park perform the Worlds 2024 anthem?
While Riot Games has yet to officially announce Linkin Park as the artists behind the Worlds 2024 anthem, the band’s tour dates, new album symbolism, and cryptic social media interactions have left fans buzzing with speculation.
League of Legends fans will have to wait until 24 September to find out whether Linkin Park will take the stage as the artists behind this year’s anthem.
