{"id":203946,"date":"2025-11-11T09:16:51","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T14:16:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2025\/11\/11\/katseye-reimagine-m-i-a-for-valorant-inclusive-esports-campaign-megan-basically-manifested-it-this-is-so-nostalgic-to-me-3\/"},"modified":"2025-11-11T09:16:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T14:16:51","slug":"katseye-reimagine-m-i-a-for-valorant-inclusive-esports-campaign-megan-basically-manifested-it-this-is-so-nostalgic-to-me-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2025\/11\/11\/katseye-reimagine-m-i-a-for-valorant-inclusive-esports-campaign-megan-basically-manifested-it-this-is-so-nostalgic-to-me-3\/","title":{"rendered":"KATSEYE Reimagine \u2018M.I.A.\u2019 for \u2018Valorant\u2019 Inclusive Esports Campaign & Megan Basically Manifested It: \u2018This Is So Nostalgic to\u00a0Me\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

\n\tFor Riot Games\u2019 goal to elevate women and marginalized genders in esports with its Game Changers initiative, few music-gaming collaborations would make a more natural fit than KATSEYE<\/a> and Valorant<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\n

\t\t\t\t\tRelated\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n

\n
\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"KATSEYE<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n

\n

\t\t\t\t\tMegan of KATSEYE Shares Real-Time Reactions to Group\u2019s Grammy Nominations: \u2018The Group Chat Is Blowing\u00a0Up\u2019\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n

<\/time><\/p><\/div>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Back<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n

\n

\t\t\t\t\tKATSEYE, sombr, Laufey & More Vie for Breakthrough of the Year at First-Ever TikTok Awards: Nominations\u00a0Announced\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n

<\/time><\/p><\/div>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"KATSEYE\"<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n

\n

\t\t\t\t\tWatch KATSEYE & Bowen Yang Spoof Group\u2019s Viral Mariah Carey VMAs Red Carpet Moment in \u2018Gabriela\u2019 Video\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n

<\/time><\/p><\/div>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tThe newly Grammy-nominated act\u2019s<\/a> song \u201cM.I.A,\u201d off their Billboard 200<\/a> top 10 EP Beautiful Chaos<\/em>, is reimagined in a new \u201cValorant Game Changers Version,\u201d out Tuesday (Nov. 11) ahead of the 2025 Valorant Game Changers Championship finals, taking place this month in Seoul. However, this collaboration carries extra resonance because one of KATSEYE\u2019s six members is an avid gamer who appears to have manifested the team-up.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI used to just say it on livestream before I even knew anything was gonna happen with KATSEYE and Valorant<\/em>,\u201d Megan<\/strong> shares, speaking to Billboard<\/em> exclusively about the new partnership. \u201cSo when they presented this collaboration, I was literally so stoked. I\u2019ve been playing this game since I was like 14 years old on my brother\u2019s computer in COVID times; this is so nostalgic to me, honestly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tNow 19, Megan\u2019s enthusiasm \u2014 as well as KATSEYE\u2019s larger message of inclusivity and empowerment \u2014 is threaded throughout the reworked anthem, with new lyrics drawing on themes of perseverance and community that stem from the connections in gaming when uplifting one another.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe all stand behind that anyone can play any game and there shouldn\u2019t be any weirdness,\u201d the Honolulu native adds. \u201cWe really, really do think this aligns so much with KATSEYE and our brand. We\u2019re so, so excited to do this collab.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tWith several No. 1 <\/a>Billboard<\/a><\/em> chart hits to its name<\/a>, Riot Games has leaned into music as a storytelling mechanism for gaming before. However, Valorant Game Changers shines the spotlight on new players in its first-person shooter game, with its global championship in Asia for the first time. The event will run Nov. 20-30 in Seoul, with finals scheduled from Nov. 28-30 at Riot\u2019s LoL<\/a> Park esports stadium in Seoul. Bringing in Korea-based HYBE and its global girl group KATSEYE positions the collaboration as a <\/strong>cultural handshake between two rapidly growing cultural communities.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cKATSEYE already had a ton of fans across Riot [Games] and in the Valorant<\/em> community,\u201d Jonny Altepeter<\/strong>, Riot Games\u2019 senior manager of music supervision and A&R, tells Billboard<\/em>. \u201cWhen we found out Megan was a VAL<\/em> player and they were excited to collab, it just made sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tFor Altepeter, the appeal of reworking \u201cM.I.A\u201d resonated both musically and to the culture within the gaming community: \u201cSonically, it has that high-energy, bold confidence that works so well in our world. And thematically, it lined up perfectly with the moment we were trying to capture\u2026our artist collaborations are everything. We\u2019re always looking for voices that feel exactly right for a specific moment in our universe. We\u2019re really intentional \u2014 and honestly, pretty precious \u2014 about VAL<\/em> music, because we know how much it means to our community. Every artist we bring in is chosen for a reason. They bring something unique that helps elevate the story we\u2019re telling, both in-game and beyond. That level of care and specificity is what sets us apart. We\u2019re not just trying to find good songs\u2026 we\u2019re building meaningful creative partnerships that help shape the emotional core of our world. And we\u2019re so grateful to the artists who trust us and bring their full selves to that process.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAnna Donlon<\/strong>, head of Valorant Studios and the architect behind Game Changers, frames the partnership as precisely the kind of crossover Riot Games built the program to foster.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWhen we started Game Changers, the goal was always bigger than just competition,\u201d Donlon shares. \u201cIt was about creating a space for players who hadn\u2019t always seen themselves represented in esports. This year\u2019s anthem and music video captures that same spirit, bringing people together, no matter where they come from. Across all our global events, music has been a powerful way to connect players, celebrate them and deepen their bond with Valorant<\/em>. At the Game Changers Championship finals, you\u2019ll see all of that come to life: the energy, the pride, the love for the game. And having South Korea\u2019s own Ninetails<\/strong>, the first all-Korean team to qualify for the championship, take the stage on home turf? That\u2019s going to make it even more special.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAltepeter calls collaborations with actual players \u201chands down our favorite types of collaborations\u201d because players-turned-artists speed up creative chemistry. \u201cWhen someone already understands our world, everything just flows better\u2026you can always feel that real connection in the final result.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tCheck out the results for yourself with KATSEYE\u2019s new video for \u201cM.I.A. (Game Changers Version)\u201d here<\/a> and read on for more with Megan below.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tKATSEYE X VALORANT Game Changers - \"M.I.A. (Game Changers Version)\"<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>

\n

\t\t\t\t\tKATSEYE X VALORANT Game Changers \u2013 \u201cM.I.A. (Game Changers Version)\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRiot Games Music<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\tHow does it feel remixing \u201cM.I.A\u201d for the Valorant Game Changers initiative? <\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tMegan: <\/strong>\u201cM.I.A\u201d is such a hard-hitting, strong, confident song. Especially with Valorant<\/em>, since it\u2019s such a cool, fun, very fierce game, I feel like going with \u201cM.I.A\u201d was just the perfect song. Especially [how] it tells a story with determination and perseverance, so I think going with this new reimagined version of \u201cM.I.A\u201d for Valorant<\/em> was just like a no-brainer decision for all of us.<\/p>\n

\n\tHow did KATSEYE get involved in the program and what did it mean to you also to be here as a player? <\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tMegan:<\/strong> Especially with me being a player myself, I used to just say on livestream before I even knew anything was gonna happen with KATSEYE and Valorant<\/em>. I was like, \u201cOh yeah, I play Valorant<\/em>.\u201d It was just something that I said because it\u2019s something I used to do in my free time. When they presented this collaboration, I was literally so stoked. I\u2019ve been playing this game since I was, like, 14 years old on my brother\u2019s computer in COVID times; this is so nostalgic to me, honestly. So, when we were presented this, I was literally jumping for joy. This is literally my game; I love this game. So it really does mean a lot to me and especially with the Game Changers, with what it represents \u2014 it\u2019s just so cool. We\u2019re just all so excited for this collaboration and we\u2019re just so grateful that we\u2019re able to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tWhat\u2019s your history with gaming and Valorant<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tMegan:<\/strong> I grew up with a brother, so a lot of the games that I would play, my brother would introduce them to me. When I was little, I would always want to play dolls with him, but obviously he wasn\u2019t going to play with dolls. So then he would introduce me to computer games like Valorant,<\/em> Minecraft<\/em> and those kind of games. And then he was really into Valorant<\/em> and I was like, \u201cOK, like let me get into this.\u201d And I did. It was just so addictive. Especially during COVID and everything, like that was my sh\u2013. That\u2019s all, really, I could do because no one was going outside and it was a fun way to play with your friends. I feel like it was just a cool thing to do on my free time and it felt so much fun. There\u2019s nothing really more to it than just saying that it was really, really fun and I really am such a competitive person that loves games like these \u2014 I thrive in it. [Laughs]<\/em><\/p>\n

\n\tDo you have a go-to agent you play with in Valorant<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tMegan:<\/strong> I usually play as Sage<\/strong>, the healer. There\u2019s like this little term for Valorant<\/em> players that you say they\u2019re the \u201cpocket Sage,\u201d so I would usually be a pocket Sage when I would play with my friends. I would be their support to heal them when they\u2019re dying.<\/p>\n

\n\tDo you ever play Valorant<\/em> with any of your KATSEYE members?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tMegan: <\/strong>No, I actually haven\u2019t got the chance to yet. I feel like right now we\u2019re like so busy with our schedule, but I really specifically want to see how Yoonchae<\/strong> will play with me. [Laughs] <\/em>I have to teach her how to be a pocket Sage \u2014 I feel like she\u2019d be a really good pocket Sage. Yeah, we really do need one sit-down gaming session, all six of us, to play Valorant<\/em> and see who\u2019s naturally gifted. I think that Lara<\/strong> would be Jett. <\/strong>I feel like Sophia<\/strong> could maybe be Neon<\/strong> since Neon is Filipino\u2026<\/p>\n

\n\tThis Game Changers program is meant to empower people from different backgrounds and marginalized genders. Have you ever experienced pushback as a girl gamer? Are things changing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tMegan:<\/strong> Honestly, I think it\u2019s better now, but there were times in games where you would turn your microphone on and play with random people who were online, trying to find a group member. It was such a big thing for a second where if a girl turned their mic on, they would start bullying the girl \u2014 it happened to me a few times. It was pretty crazy, but then the funniest thing is when you\u2019re really good, as a girl, and they get so mad. [Laughs] <\/em>But I just don\u2019t understand that, it was a big thing but I don\u2019t think it\u2019s as big of a thing now. It\u2019s just them thinking that I was going to drag them behind and I ended up being the last one standing, pulling through and carrying the team. It\u2019s the funniest thing ever, honestly, I just laugh.<\/p>\n

\n\tDo you notice any direct link between music and gaming? Does music enhance the experience?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tMegan:<\/strong> Music and games are such a big thing and I feel like people don\u2019t really realize how much music is incorporated and how much it like really affects the gameplay. I mean, when you\u2019re in combat mode, you want some good hype-up music and when you\u2019re in more of a chill vibe, you would want like some [chill music], you know what I mean? It really does affect the whole overall vibe. I think Fortnite<\/em> would play concerts in their games, which was so insane and so, so cool. I love how like they incorporated that in such a fun way. I would honestly love to do a virtual concert one day. I\u2019d love to see how that works \u2014 it\u2019s so intriguing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Aller \u00e0 la source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For Riot Games\u2019 goal to elevate women and marginalized genders in esports with its Game Changers initiative, few music-gaming collaborations would make a more natural fit than KATSEYE and Valorant. Related Megan of KATSEYE Shares Real-Time Reactions to Group\u2019s Grammy Nominations: \u2018The Group Chat Is Blowing\u00a0Up\u2019 KATSEYE, sombr, Laufey & More Vie for Breakthrough of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-203946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-musique","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=203946"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203946\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=203946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=203946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}