Japanese music duo YOASOBI has partnered with Blizzard Entertainment to create "Orion," a new song inspired by the lore and characters of the hero shooter Overwatch. The collaboration aims to deepen the narrative integration within Overwatch as the game shifts towards a story-heavy seasonal structure. YOASOBI, known for their narrative-driven songs based on existing stories, was a natural fit for this project.
Overwatch's Associate Director of Product Management, Aimee Dennett, stated that the duo's history of crafting powerful narratives through their music made them ideal for conveying the complex relationships between Overwatch heroes Genji, Hanzo, and Kiriko. The team looked to YOASOBI to help set the tone for the current season, which features a focus on Japan and the conflict within the Shimada clan. Art Director Dion Rogers noted that the team's appreciation for YOASOBI's style and fanbase, which aligns with Overwatch's hopeful tone, was also a key factor.
"Orion" is based on the Overwatch short story "The Fall of a Sparrow" and serves as the opening track for YOASOBI's new EP, "The Book For." While the short story is primarily from Genji's perspective, the song offers listeners Kiriko's point of view, particularly during her childhood flashbacks. YOASOBI's vocalist Ikura explained her approach to embodying the character, switching between Kiriko's internal monologue and an omniscient narrator to reflect the character's emotions and role in the story.
Producer and composer Ayase drew inspiration for the song's title from the Orion's Belt constellation. He explained that the three stars, appearing unified from Earth but vastly distant in reality, symbolize the interconnected yet distinct paths of Kiriko, Genji, and Hanzo. This imagery mirrors the characters' shared destiny and individual struggles.
This marks YOASOBI's first collaboration with a first-person shooter, and Ayase emphasized their effort to ensure "Orion" complemented Overwatch's fast-paced world. The duo delved into existing lore, including the animated cinematic "Brothers," to find the right sonic identity for the song. Ayase expressed his honor at being part of the Overwatch universe and his commitment to respecting the source material, aiming to capture the "soul" of the characters in their music. He described the process as more exciting than difficult, thanks to the abundance of lore materials provided by Blizzard.
Both Ayase and Ikura highlighted how creating music based on diverse stories and characters allows them to explore new artistic expressions and vocal techniques. Ikura noted that embodying different characters in each song presents a fun challenge, pushing her to discover new aspects of her vocal abilities by finding the emotional core of each narrative. The collaboration also extends to in-game cosmetics, with new skins for Kiriko, Hanzo, Genji, Anran, Juno, and Mizuki available in Overwatch. These skins offer a more fashionable, everyday look for the heroes, moving away from their combat gear.
Blizzard is open to future collaborations with musical artists worldwide to highlight diverse cultures. Rogers stated that the team is always seeking natural fits for Overwatch, and with heroes hailing from all over the globe, the possibilities are vast. YOASOBI also expressed a desire to collaborate with international storytellers, including those in anime and film from outside Japan, to foster synergy between global and Japanese creative scenes.
YOASOBI will be releasing an animated music video for "Orion" created by A-1 Studio, the animation team behind "Sword Art Online" and the "Nier Automata" anime, at a later date.