Japanese music duo YOASOBI will extend the excitement of the Overwatch World Cup through music at BlizzCon 2026. YOASOBI is set to perform at BlizzCon's first-ever esports halftime show during the tournament, featuring their Overwatch collaboration song 'Orion' among other tracks. Their signature approach of adapting novels into music extends this time to the game's world, gameplay experience, and a stage set for esports fans gathered from around the world.

'Orion' is a song based on the Overwatch short story 'The Fall of a Sparrow'. Set against the backdrop of Tokyo, it explores the intertwined memories and relationships of Kiriko, Genji, and Hanzo. Through the collaboration between Overwatch and YOASOBI held last July, the song expanded into various in-game content, including an animated music video and legendary skins. That collaboration highlighted the journey of the three characters returning to one another through distance, loss, and longstanding conflict, all seen through Kiriko's eyes.

YOASOBI explained that their approach to game music differed from working on anime theme songs. Rather than focusing on following a narrative, they felt they needed to stimulate and accelerate the active gameplay experience of players. Ayase emphasized more pop and fun elements than usual, while ikura enhanced the depth of her vocals so that listeners could feel a stronger connection and affection for the three characters. For the cyber and near-futuristic imagery of the Tokyo map, they incorporated the timbre of the koto—a traditional Japanese string instrument—combining Overwatch's vision of Japanese culture with YOASOBI's J-pop in a single track.

The interview also revealed YOASOBI's approach toward the global market. They explained that rather than intentionally mixing in Western elements for overseas listeners, presenting their J-pop as it is was embraced as something fresh. They also pointed out J-pop's strength in having fluid genre boundaries that allow it to combine flexibly with various forms of culture, including games, manga, and anime.

YOASOBI described this collaboration with Blizzard and Overwatch as a project that became a significant milestone for them. On the BlizzCon stage, they aim to showcase new sounds discovered through the collaboration and a side of themselves never seen before, while also delivering signature YOASOBI music. They emphasized their commitment to elevating the passion and energy that players and fans hold for Overwatch through their performance.

YOASOBI's music has shown strong synergy with narrative-driven works such as anime and games. When creating 'Orion' based on the Overwatch short story 'The Fall of a Sparrow,' how did your approach differ from writing an anime theme song? How did you express the emotions and bonds between Genji, Hanzo, and Kiriko through music?

" Ayase: We thought about how to approach game music differently from narrative-driven works like anime theme songs. For a game, we felt the music needed to stimulate the player's gameplay experience and boost excitement and a sense of speed. So I tried to incorporate slightly more pop and enjoyable elements into the track than usual.

ikura: I wanted to express the story and bond of the three characters through vocals as well. Rather than just playing the game, I sang with added depth so that players could feel a deeper connection, affection, and interest in these characters.

What left the strongest impression when you first received the collaboration proposal? What do you think is the biggest appeal of the finished track 'Orion'?

" ikura: When I first heard about it, I was thrilled and surprised. Overwatch is beloved worldwide, and since this project centered around the Tokyo map, I was especially happy to be invited as a collaborating artist.

While recording the vocals and contemplating what we could create as YOASOBI, we discovered new sounds and vocal expressions that could only be born through a collaboration with Overwatch. It was a project where I discovered a new dimension in myself, and I think that is the true charm of 'Orion.'

Which Overwatch hero left the deepest impression on you or inspired you the most? From a Japanese creator's perspective, how did you feel about the way Japanese culture was interpreted through Genji, Hanzo, and Kiriko?

" Ayase: The characters we focused on for this track and the Tokyo map are Kiriko, Genji, and Hanzo. In particular, while reading the short story deeply and writing the lyrics, I developed a strong affection for Kiriko.

I could understand what aspects of Japanese culture overseas creators find cool. While it might differ from a literal representation of traditional Japan, it looked very impressive even through Japanese eyes. It added cyber and near-futuristic elements to Japanese culture while naturally incorporating traditional musical elements like the sound of the koto.

We reflected this direction when composing the track as well. Combining futuristic sounds with the timbre of the koto allowed listeners to experience the music in a more multi-dimensional way. I felt that through this combination, we could share the appeal of J-pop and Japanese culture more broadly with the world.

How do you maintain the unique color of YOASOBI and J-pop while connecting with fans across diverse cultures? What do you consider the biggest strength of J-pop in the global music market?

" Ayase: We don't intentionally mix in Western musical elements just to reach overseas listeners. We feel that presenting songs born as J-pop exactly as they are is actually received as something fresh, and the number of people who appreciate that is steadily growing.

J-pop isn't anchored to a single root; it has the flexibility and uniqueness to evolve into any form. That's why it can combine dynamically not only with games like Overwatch, but also with various cultural mediums like manga and anime to deliver music in a multi-dimensional way. I believe there is still immense potential to introduce the appeal of J-pop to the world through Japanese culture as a whole.

How do you feel about performing at BlizzCon, where Blizzard fans from around the world gather? Could you share any special stage performances prepared for gamers and esports fans?

" ikura: I never expected we would take the stage at an event where people gather from all over the world, so I'm thrilled. It will be a performance made possible specifically because of our collaboration with Overwatch, and I think we can show a side of YOASOBI that has never been seen before.

At the same time, we think it's important to express who we are as artists—YOASOBI—beyond just the frame of J-pop. I hope everyone looks forward to both aspects. As this is a major halftime show, we will do our absolute best to further elevate the passion and energy for Overwatch shared by the players and fans at the venue.

Is there anything you would like to say to fans from across Asia attending BlizzCon?

" YOASOBI: We would like to share this message not only with fans in Asia, but with all Overwatch fans around the world. Creating 'Orion' with Blizzard and the Overwatch team was a deeply meaningful project that marked an important milestone for us. We will pour everything we have into the stage, so please look forward to the performance.