Aespa is once again bringing their profile to gaming,, and nowAespaa in PUBG: Battlegrounds. Fresh off the massive success of their latest single “Dirty Work,” K-pop sensation aespa is now teaming up with KRAFTON’s PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS for a global collaboration. Their new single, “Dark Arts,” drops on July 15, 202,5 and it’s all about that expressive, victorious vibe.
This follows up on Capcom’s announcement that aespa would be featured in a K-pop collaboration in Street Fighter 6. Aespa has joined BTS’s Min Yoongi (SUGA), who collaborated with Halsey for Diablo IV, Le Sserafim, who helped launch Overwatch 2, Blackpink’s collaboration with PUBG Mobile, G(i)dle, New Jeans, and TWICE, who have all collaborated with RIOT’s League of Legends, Enhypen’s Pokémon collab, BTS’s Kim Seok-jin (Jin), who collaborated with MapleStory, Dreamcatcher’s time with King’s Raid, and Stray Kids’ item featured in NBA 2K24, and many more.
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Who are aespa?
PUBG x aespa Prelude (with ‘Whiplash’) | PUBG Collaboration
They don’t just walk into Miramar. They overwrite it. The PUBG x aespa Prelude sets the stage. Next to unlock: the Launch Film, July 9.
Formed by SM Entertainment, æspa is a South Korean girl group that consists of four members: Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning. The girl group merges K-pop with a futuristic narrative involving both human members and their accompanying AI avatars, exploring themes of identity and connectivity. The group debuted in 2020, with their hit single “Black Mamba,” which achieved the highest number of views in 24 hours for a K-pop group’s debut video.
Last week, aespa’s “Dirty Work” exploded onto the scene, hitting #1 on Spotify’s “Top Songs Debut Global” charts. The track racked up over 1.01 million pre-orders and more than 27 million music video views. Not only did it dominate domestic music charts, but it also soared on global platforms, snagging five No. 1 spots on China’s QQ Music and topping KuGou Music’s Digital Album Sales chart and Japan’s AWA real-time Rising chart. Talk about a global takeover!
Where can we see aespa in PUBG?
Now, these “queens of the K-pop universe,” known for their distinct “metallic edge” and powerful performances, are diving into the battle royale arena. “Dark Arts” aims to capture a fierce determination to claim victory in intense survival battles. Expect aggressive rhythms and fast-paced guitar sounds that crank up the tension of combat. The song promises a dynamic synergy with aespa’s unique style, building hype among global music fans.
You can already catch some teaser content—the “Guess Who” teaser launched on June 29, 2025 across PUBG’s YouTube and social media platforms. As of July 3, the first collaboration teaser video is now available, with more sneak peeks to follow soon.
“Dark Arts” will release July 15, 2025 on music platforms.
