i-dle’s Soyeon is returning to the virtual world of League of Legends as the voice of Akali, with True Damage making a long-awaited comeback for the 2026 League of Legends World Championship anthem.
Riot Games has officially announced that the virtual hip-hop collective will perform this year’s anthem, titled “Know My Name,” marking the first time one of Riot Games’ virtual music acts has been selected to perform a Worlds anthem.
The announcement brings Soyeon back to a character she has already made closely associated with her musical identity.
She previously provided the voice of Akali for True Damage’s 2019 debut single “GIANTS,” which became one of Riot Games’ most recognizable virtual-artist projects.
The new song will therefore reunite Soyeon with Akali seven years after True Damage first appeared on the Worlds stage.
“Know My Name” is scheduled to be released on October 8 at 6 p.m. PDT, which is October 9 at 10 a.m. KST, across major streaming platforms.
The official music video will premiere simultaneously on the League of Legends YouTube channel.
The 2026 anthem also carries a major esports storyline.
Its music video will focus on legendary League of Legends player Faker, whose real name is Lee Sang Hyuk, and his journey with T1 toward a historic three-peat World Championship victory.
The video will explore the challenges, setbacks and continued evolution surrounding that journey, connecting the competitive world of League of Legends with True Damage’s musical return.
Soyeon Returns as Akali Alongside a New True Damage Lineup
True Damage is a virtual hip-hop collective built around five League of Legends champions: Akali, Ekko, Qiyana, Senna and Yasuo. For the 2026 project, Soyeon once again voices Akali, while several new artists join the lineup.
Coco Jones will provide the voice for Senna, Vic Mensa will represent Ekko, and Sofía Reyes will take on Qiyana.
Yasuo remains part of the virtual group as its DJ and producer character.
The combination brings together artists from different musical backgrounds while maintaining the distinctive identity of the True Damage characters.
For Soyeon, the project marks another connection between her K-pop career and Riot Games’ virtual music universe.
She has previously participated in both True Damage and K/DA, another virtual group created around League of Legends champions.
Her return as Akali is particularly notable because “Know My Name” is the first True Damage release since “GIANTS” in 2019.
The group originally debuted during the 2019 World Championship Final in Paris, with its members combining real-world performers and fictional League of Legends characters.
Soyeon expressed her excitement about returning to the project, describing the opportunity to participate in the Worlds anthem as an honor and looking forward to seeing how League fans respond to the song.
She is also set to join the other performers for the live opening ceremony later this year.
The return of True Damage also represents a new chapter in Riot Games’ approach to Worlds music.
Previous tournament anthems have featured major artists from around the world, but “Know My Name” will be the first Worlds anthem performed by one of Riot’s own virtual music acts.
‘Know My Name’ Brings True Damage Back to the Worlds Stage
The new anthem is closely tied to the story of Faker and T1. Rather than simply serving as a standalone promotional track, the accompanying music video will trace Faker’s journey through victories and difficult moments as he and T1 pursued their historic three consecutive World Championship titles.
The storyline reflects one of the central themes associated with competitive esports: continuing to develop and adapt after setbacks while attempting to reach the highest level.
Riot Games has positioned the video around that journey, using music and animation to connect Faker’s real-world career with the fictional world of League of Legends.
The release will also lead directly into the 2026 Worlds tournament.
The competition will take place in the United States this year, with the Play-In Stage beginning in Los Angeles on October 15 before the event moves toward New York for the final stage.
True Damage will perform “Know My Name” live during the Worlds 2026 Final Opening Ceremony at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on November 14.
The performance will give Soyeon another opportunity to portray Akali in front of the global League of Legends audience.
The reunion comes nearly seven years after “GIANTS” introduced True Damage to fans.
Since then, the performers involved in the original project have continued developing their individual careers, while Riot Games has expanded its virtual music universe through projects such as K/DA and other League of Legends-themed musical acts.
Now, with Soyeon once again stepping into Akali’s role, True Damage is returning to the spotlight with a new lineup, a new anthem and a major esports storyline at its center.
With “Know My Name” arriving in October and the live Worlds performance scheduled for November, Soyeon’s return as Akali gives fans of both i-dle and League of Legends another highly anticipated crossover moment.
The project also brings True Damage back to the global stage for its first release since 2019, making the 2026 Worlds anthem a significant new chapter for Riot Games’ virtual music universe.
| Release Date | October 27, 2009 |
|---|---|
| Platforms | PC |
| Developer | Riot Games |
| Director | Various |
| Writer / Narrative | Riot Games |
