The Very Real Stardom of Virtual Idols K/DA
ELLE Singapore|January 2021
As riot games cultivates a unique brand of omnichannel entertainment with league of legends taking over the world, along with it, the meteoric rise of virtual pop music group K/DA
Andrea Sim
The Very Real Stardom of Virtual Idols K/DA

The crowd starts cheering as the countdown timer reaches the 15 second mark. They’re chanting now with ten seconds left, their voices becoming more spirited as it bears down to zero. Right on time, the orchestra flanking the silver Summoner’s Cup springs into action. Then Zedd emerges on stage, playing his synth keyboards to “Ignite” as the violins and cellos swell with urgency in an epic summoning of the 2016 League of Legends World Championship’s finalists to the stage. Both teams up for the cup are South Korean, with Samsung Galaxy going against the then two-time world champion SK Telecom T1. As many as 43 million people watched — in person at the Staples Centre and, via streams — as SKT T1 eventually took home the silver trophy once more. (For comparison, the NBA Finals’ averaged a viewership of 20.2 million that same year.)

The mania surrounding League of Legends (League) might seem hard to understand for those who have yet to come into contact with it, or one of its die-hard players for that matter. But this phenomenon, and its future potential as a pop culture mainstay, cannot be ignored or dismissed. The Riot Games-owned League commands a community of players that far surpasses in numbers that of other popular desktop games like Call Of Duty, World Of Warcraft and Dota 2. It boasts no fewer than 35 million active users monthly, with Worlds (as League’s championship is referred to in abbreviation) reaching an all-time high of over a billion hours watched for 2020’s edition.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 2021 من ELLE Singapore.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 2021 من ELLE Singapore.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من ELLE SINGAPORE مشاهدة الكل
Japan Calling
ELLE Singapore

Japan Calling

Dive into Japan's perfect mix of tradition and modern flair, with dreamy hotels and restaurants that make for the ultimate quick escape.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
Walking The Walk
ELLE Singapore

Walking The Walk

MANOLO BLAHNIK remains one of the most covetable names in footwear. Now with more than five decades of history, the brand goes back to its beginnings to celebrate its most timeless silhouettes.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
What Dreams May Come
ELLE Singapore

What Dreams May Come

Life as an actress can be an emotional roller coaster. Crazy Rich Asians star CONSTANCE LAU shares the highs, the lows, and everything else in between.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
Just A Hint
ELLE Singapore

Just A Hint

Conspicuously More Understated Than Their Gem-set Cousins, These Subtle Rainbow-coloured Watches Are No Less Defiant In Their Insistence On Optimism And Style.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
A cultural Conversation
ELLE Singapore

A cultural Conversation

With its Made of Makers programme, JAEGER-LECOULTRE has built a community of like-minded creatives who place innovation, craftsmanship and precision at the heart of all they do.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
The Inner Lives Of Clothes
ELLE Singapore

The Inner Lives Of Clothes

Compelling Fashion Doesn't Have To Be Ostentatious Or Overtly Conceptual, But It Does Need A Clear Identity And Character Of Its Own.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Journey to the WEST
ELLE Singapore

Journey to the WEST

Time to slip into some chaps and saddle up. Fashion's biggest brands are taking a turn at the rodeo.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
The Mai Effect
ELLE Singapore

The Mai Effect

Fresh off her cover shoot for ELLE Singapore-draped in head-turning Bvlgari jewels-Davika Hoorne radiates the charm and allure of a woman who's both wildly ambitious and perfectly content in her own skin. Here, the 32-year-old Thai-Belgian star reflects on two decades in the spotlight, and why she's not done dreaming just yet.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
in Conversation
ELLE Singapore

in Conversation

Cartier creative director MARIE-LAURE CÉRÈDE delves into the Maison’s haute joaillerie timepieces, while highlighting the importance of creativity and a happy team in her chat with CHARMAINE HO.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
SPIRIT OF Samba
ELLE Singapore

SPIRIT OF Samba

ENJOY A RIOTOUS NIGHT OUT WITH YOUR WELL-HEELED FRIENDS AT SUSHISAMBA SINGAPORE. COME FOR THE DRINKS AND STAY FOR THE REVELRYBUT DON'T FORGET TO DRESS THE PART.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024