en
Riot Games Brings Local Flair to VCT EMEA With Mushkaa Collab
Riot Games has confirmed a fresh collaboration that's about to give one of VALORANT's most iconic anthems a distinctly local twist. Ahead of the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Finals in Barcelona, the publisher has teamed up with rising Spanish artist Mushkaa to remix Villain (Take the Shot), one of the game's biggest musical hits.
A Remix Rooted in Local Culture
The new version of Villain isn't just a fresh coat of paint on an old favorite. Created alongside the track's original artists, Barns Courtney and ARB4, the remix blends Spanish and Catalan cultural elements with the high-energy identity that made the 2024 original a fan favorite.
That original track has already racked up more than 6.6 million streams on Spotify, so expectations for this reimagined version are running high.
Who Is Mushkaa
Mushkaa isn't a random pick for this project. She's become one of the leading voices in Catalonia's urban music scene, recently selling out Barcelona's Sant Jordi Club, a venue that doesn't hand out sellouts easily.
What makes her involvement especially fitting is that she'll perform the remix in both Spanish and Catalan, weaving her own cultural identity directly into a song that already carries weight within the VALORANT community.
A Live Debut Fans Won't Want to Miss
The remix won't just drop as a studio release and disappear into playlists. Mushkaa is set to debut it live for the very first time during the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Finals, which take over the Olímpic Arena in Badalona from August 28 to 30. For a crowd expected to fill the arena for the region's biggest VALORANT event of the stage, having a hometown artist deliver a career-first performance adds an extra layer of spectacle to the weekend.
Mushkaa herself seems just as excited about the opportunity as fans are:
"When Riot approached me about reimagining Villain, I immediately loved the idea of bringing something from my own world into a song that already means so much to the VALORANT community"
She added that debuting the remix live in Barcelona, in front of thousands of fans during the Finals, makes the whole collaboration "even more special."
Part of a Growing Music Catalogue
This isn't Riot's first rodeo when it comes to blending music with esports moments. The Villain remix joins Riot Games Music's catalogue of over 1,000 songs, which includes nearly 60 tracks tied specifically to VALORANT. Collectively, those VALORANT tracks have pulled in more than 700 million streams worldwide, underlining just how much music has become part of the game's identity beyond the servers.
With the finals just weeks away, this partnership signals that Riot wants the Barcelona event to feel like more than just a tournament. Between the arena's Olympic pedigree, a passionate local fanbase, and now a homegrown musical moment courtesy of Mushkaa, the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Finals is shaping up to be one of the region's most memorable events yet.
Follow Strafe Esports for the latest VALORANT news, and our X account for the latest content and coverage.
Also, stay tuned to Strafe's channel on YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.
Featured image credit: Riot Games
Read more:
VALORANT Night Market Returns July 16: Complete List of Skins
100 Thieves Claim First-Ever International VALORANT Title at Esports World Cup
