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K/DA Announces Comeback After Six Years, Teases October 20 Release
14 Oct, 2026, 13:08
|Last updated: 14 Oct, 2026, 13:08
K/DA is back. Nearly six years after its last original release, the virtual League of Legends group has teased something new for October 20, 2026. The announcement, posted on Wednesday (October 14), features the words "Start a Fire" alongside close-up shots of the four members' eyes, hinting at a new chapter for Riot Games' virtual pop group.
The teaser appeared on K/DA's official X account with a simple question: "Do we have your attention?" Riot has yet to clarify whether October 20 marks the release of a new song or a more detailed announcement about the group's comeback.
Could K/DA's New Song Be Called "WATCH ME"?
While the teaser prominently features the phrase "Start a Fire", it's still unclear whether this is the title of an upcoming track or simply part of the promotional campaign.
Back in August, an unreleased song titled "WATCH ME", attributed to K/DA, surfaced in the ASCAP database, which tracks music rights and songwriting credits in the United States.
According to reports, the registration listed five songwriters: Felicia "Feli" Ferraro, Nija Charles, Ali Tamposi, Federico Vindver, and Sébastien Najand. The five have credits across international music projects, including work connected to Riot Games' musical productions.
The discovery fueled speculation that K/DA was preparing its first new release since 2020. However, Riot has not confirmed that "WATCH ME" is the song being teased for October, nor has it explained whether the registration is connected to "Start a Fire".
Will Madison Beer and SOYEON Return to K/DA?
Another major question surrounding the comeback is who will provide the voices for Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai'Sa. K/DA's original lineup featured Miyeon and SOYEON of i-dle, Madison Beer, and Jaira Burns, although Riot has brought in additional singers for subsequent releases.
Rumors about potential lineup changes have been circulating in recent months, including speculation that Madison Beer may not be involved in the new project. So far, however, none of these claims have been officially confirmed.
SOYEON is a particularly interesting name to watch. The singer recently reprised her role as Akali for True Damage's comeback with "Know My Name", the official Worlds 2026 anthem. In addition to K/DA, Akali is also a member of Riot's virtual hip-hop group.
K/DA Hasn't Released New Music Since 2020
K/DA made its debut in November 2018 with "POP/STARS", which premiered during the Worlds 2018 Grand Final Opening Ceremony. The performance combined live singers with augmented reality versions of the League of Legends champions, introducing the project to audiences far beyond the game's existing fanbase.
The song quickly became an international hit. "POP/STARS" reached No. 1 on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart and surpassed 100 million YouTube views in approximately one month.
The track later earned a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), recognizing its commercial performance in the United States. Its official music video has now accumulated more than 668 million views on YouTube.
That success led Riot to bring K/DA back in 2020 with the "ALL OUT" EP. The project featured five tracks: "THE BADDEST", "MORE", "VILLAIN", "DRUM GO DUM", and "I'LL SHOW YOU", with guest appearances from artists including TWICE, Lexie Liu, Bea Miller, and Wolftyla.
K/DA's most recent EP was released on November 6, 2020. Despite the group's continued popularity on streaming platforms and within the League of Legends community, Riot has not released any new original music under the K/DA name since then.
One of K/DA's biggest achievements was reaching audiences across different music and gaming communities, bringing together K-pop fans, international pop listeners, and League of Legends players. "POP/STARS" also helped establish virtual music groups as an important part of Riot Games' broader music strategy.
Riot Games Has Brought Back All Its Virtual Music Groups in 2026
K/DA's announcement is the latest in a series of musical comebacks across League of Legends in 2026. Music has been one of the central themes of the game's third season, with new songs, skins, and other content dedicated to Riot's virtual groups.
In September, Riot announced HEARTSTEEL's return with "Live My Life", the second single from the group featuring Ezreal, Kayn, Aphelios, Yone, K'Sante, and Sett. The release came nearly three years after its debut track, "PARANOIA", and was accompanied by a new skin collection.
True Damage also made a comeback, this time with "Know My Name", the official Worlds 2026 anthem. The group had not released a new song since "GIANTS" in 2019 and is scheduled to perform during the World Championship Grand Final Opening Ceremony.
Even Pentakill, League of Legends' heavy metal band, has returned to the spotlight. On Monday (October 12), Riot released an orchestral version of the Worlds 2026 theme featuring Pentakill, blending heavy metal elements with the original composition.
Pentakill's return, however, has been more limited. Unlike HEARTSTEEL and True Damage, the band has not received a new skin collection, nor has Riot announced a standalone album or single. Its most recent album, "Pentakill III: Lost Chapter", was released in 2021.
With K/DA's latest teaser, all four of League of Legends' major virtual music groups have returned to the spotlight in 2026. The question now is what Riot has planned for October 20, and whether K/DA's comeback will include new music, skins, or even a performance at Worlds 2026.
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Featured image credit: Riot Games
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