Heavy music and competitive gaming met in Shanghai, China, as Bring Me The Horizon’s frontman Oli Sykes and Spiritbox’s vocalist Courtney LaPlante joined electronic producer Grabbitz for a live performance of “If The Sun Burns Out Tonight” during the Valorant Champions 2026 Opening Ceremony.
Taking place on October 18 at the Mercedes Benz Arena, the ceremony marked the live debut of the collaboration, which served as the official anthem for this year’s Valorant Champions tournament.
The performance brought together three artists from different musical backgrounds for one of the biggest events on the competitive gaming calendar, introducing their collaboration to an international esports audience.
Oli Sykes And Courtney LaPlante Bring Heavy Music To Valorant
Released on September 16, “If The Sun Burns Out Tonight” blends electronic production with the melodic, heavier elements associated with Bring Me The Horizon and Spiritbox.
The track moves between atmospheric passages, industrial-inspired production, and guitar-driven sections, creating a sound that connects the artists’ individual musical identities.
Sykes brings the vocal versatility that has helped Bring Me The Horizon evolve from its metalcore beginnings into one of modern rock’s most recognizable acts.
LaPlante adds another dimension by shifting between melodic singing and aggressive screams, a defining characteristic of Spiritbox’s music.
Grabbitz provides the electronic foundation, connecting both vocalists through a production style developed specifically for the Valorant universe.
Bringing the collaboration to the opening ceremony let fans experience the anthem live after weeks of anticipation surrounding the release.
The performance was part of a larger musical presentation featuring artists including keshi and Nana Ouyang, highlighting Riot Games’ continued investment in live entertainment alongside competitive gaming.
A Major Crossover Between Metal And Esports
For Grabbitz, the collaboration represents another chapter in his relationship with VALORANT.
The producer previously contributed to the game’s competitive music catalog with “Die For You,” “Fire Again,” and “Ticking Away,” making “If The Sun Burns Out Tonight” his fourth Valorant Champions anthem.
Sykes and LaPlante brought a different musical perspective to the project, pushing the anthem into a heavier territory.
The collaboration also reflects the growing relationship between alternative music and video games.
Bring Me The Horizon previously explored that connection through “Ludens,” a track created for the 2019 video game Death Stranding, while LaPlante has also contributed music to Riot Games’ fighting game 2XKO.
With both vocalists already recognized throughout the international metal scene, their appearance at VALORANT Champions introduced that musical background to another massive audience.
Watch The VALORANT Champions 2026 Opening Ceremony
The October 18 ceremony took place ahead of the Valorant Champions 2026 Grand Final, bringing music, gaming, and live production together for the tournament’s closing event.
For fans of Bring Me The Horizon and Spiritbox, the performance offered a rare chance to see Sykes and LaPlante share the stage for a collaboration outside their respective bands. It also showed how major esports events continue to create opportunities for artists from different genres to reach new audiences.
“If The Sun Burns Out Tonight” is now available across all major streaming platforms.
Listen to the official VALORANT Champions 2026 anthem here.
