Overwatch and YOASOBI Collaboration Announced With New Song Orion
This marks one of the highest-profile crossovers between a major Western game franchise and a top Japanese pop act, built around a narrative short story that ties directly into the game's lore and a new map.
Reporting from 4 sources: GAME Watch (Impress), 4Gamer.net, Denfaminicogamer, KAI-YOU.
Blizzard Entertainment and the music unit YOASOBI have announced a collaboration for the hero shooter Overwatch, set to begin on July 1. The collaboration was revealed at an event in Tokyo on May 28, where YOASOBI members Ayase and ikura appeared alongside Overwatch developers. YOASOBI produced a new song titled Orion, inspired by a short story called The Sparrow That Fell to Earth, which was published on the Overwatch website the same day. The story follows the character Genji visiting Tokyo and recalling childhood memories with Hanzo and Kiriko. The song will be included on YOASOBI's upcoming EP THE BOOK 4, releasing June 26, with a US-exclusive Overwatch Edition vinyl record. In-game, a new Kiriko skin themed to the collaboration will appear, and a music video produced by animation studio A-1 Pictures is in the works. The collaboration coincides with the addition of a new Tokyo-themed map called Neon Junction, arriving on June 17. Overwatch recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and has over 100 million cumulative players worldwide.
At the Tokyo presentation, Activision Blizzard Japan Brand Manager Asa Murata said the company wants to create "new developments" that combine Japanese culture as a unique Japanese initiative, beyond e-sports expansion. Lead Hero Producer Kenny Hudson and Narrative Design Lead Miranda Moyer called the collaboration a dream come true for the team, noting YOASOBI's storytelling ability is legendary.
YOASOBI members Ayase and ikura appeared in "Overwatch-style" outfits and nails. Ayase's nails matched the colors of Genji and Hanzo with a "near-future" motif. Ikura incorporated unique materials and shapes to match the Overwatch world. Ayase said they made the song "with our J-POP spirit fully loaded." Ikura called Kiriko "super cute" and said the neon image of the collaboration skin suits her.
Ayase explained the song title Orion is themed around the central belt of the Orion constellation, where stars are far apart but appear close together from a certain angle, mirroring the relationship between Kiriko, Genji, and Hanzo. Because the new map is Tokyo-themed, the song incorporates the sound of the koto. Ayase said they "read the story thoroughly and created the song with love and soul." Ikura said they created "Orion" "with maximum respect for Overwatch."
The new map Neon Junction, arriving June 17, is the first Hybrid map added to Overwatch in about four years. It incorporates neon streets reminiscent of Tokyo's Akihabara and pop culture landscapes, and is depicted as an area heavily influenced by the in-game criminal organization Hashimoto-gumi.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- GAME Watch (Impress) 「オーバーウォッチ」×「YOASOBI」コラボ発表！ 楽曲「オリオン」制作
- 4Gamer.net 「オーバーウォッチ」×「YOASOBI」コラボは7月1日開幕。Ayaseさん，ikuraさんがゲスト登場した発表会をレポート
- Denfaminicogamer 『オーバーウォッチ』×「YOASOBI」コラボが7月1日より開始。キリコ・ゲンジ・ハンゾーなど複数キャラのスキンが登場
- KAI-YOU YOASOBI×『オーバーウォッチ』コラボ 東京舞台の新ストーリーから新曲を書き下ろし