Song writer D4VD has collaborated with Epic Games to release Fortnite’s first official hymne ever“Locked and loaded (official Fortnite HYMN). “The track is out now and will make its debut in the game in the Fortnite Shop as part of the official Fortnite Global Championship Series (FNCS) Emot and Jam Track from September 4 at 20.
“Locked & Loaded (Official Fortnite Anthem)” will serve as the soundtrack for the 2025 Fortnite Global Championship, which starts September 6 in Lyon, France, where the world’s best Fortnite player will compete for their share of over $ 2,001,000 in prize money.
“Fortnite has been such a big part of my life and that was what made me make music in the first place,” says D4VD. “Being able to create the official anthem for Fortnite feels like a really full circle moment. Fortnite gave me a space to be creative and connect to people all over the world, and the same energy is what I wanted to put into this track. It’s more than a song. It is I who give back to something that is shaped my story as an artist.”
The accompanying release is an official music video, which combines animation, FNCS images, Fortnite games and mixed media art.
D4VD, which is signed with Darkroom Records, actually began his career and created Fortnite Montages on Youtube in 2021 and began writing original music to avoid copyrights on his videos. Since then he has received three Billboard Hot 100 hits and was appointed to AmountS Young Hollywood List 2023. He is currently on his 50+ date “Withered” tour.
Below he talks about how the anthem came about, his story with the game and what could be next.
How did you stop writing Fortnite’s first hymne ever?
I started as a Fortnite player before music, and my first music trip was very Fortnite-coded, so I’ve just always been naturally close to the epic team. I just waited for the day that I could write a song for Fortnite, to be honest – it’s my two worlds that collide. “Locked & Loaded” is literally a hymne.
How was it different than writing music for yourself?
My first songs were made just to be the background to my Fortnite Montages on Youtube, so I was really just trying to represent the players more than anything and do something that felt like this would be their hymne. Vibe is a lot of player-coded synthesis and bass and some strange sound effects and only hype play tones.
How do you see the relationship between Fortnite and music develops in the future?
Fortnite is honestly just the culture at this time: Travis, Billie, Sabrina, Kai now. It’s so amazing to see. I’m just glad that as a player and a real Fortnite child myself, I have to be part of the lid and continue to create with the epic team.
How does it feel to know that your song will be the soundtrack to one of the biggest competition events in games?
Fortnite helped shape my life. Getting to write “Hymn” because it’s fantastic. I am honestly excited to just look at the final and see who wins – and I am excited for all players and fans to hear the song and have a hymn that belongs to them.
Can we expect more music from you in Fortnite or even live performances in the game?
Only time will turn out! I will always be down to cooperate in some way that the team could ever want.
D4VD WITHERED 2025 World Tour Dates:
*Bryant Barnes Support
%Yung Kai Support
#Saga faye support
Examination
@Hannah bahng
September 3, 2025 / Columbus, OH / Newport Music Hall*
September 5, 2025 / Indianapolis, I / Egyptian room at the Old National Center*
September 6, 2025 / Chicago, IL / Salt Shit*
September 7, 2025 / Madison, Wi / The Sylvee*
September 9, 2025 / Minneapolis, MN / The Fillmore Minneapolis*
September 10, 2025 / Kansas City, Mo / The Truman* (sold)
September 12 2025 / Denver, CO / Mission Ballroom%
September 13 2025 / Salt Lake City, UT / The Complex%
September 15, 2025 / Portland or / McMenamin’s Crystal Ballroom%
16 September 2025 / Seattle, WA / Showbox Sodo% (Sold Sold)
September 17, 2025 / Seattle, WA / Showbox Sodo %%
September 19, 2025 / San Francisco, CA / Warfield% (Sold Sold)
September 20, 2025 / Los Angeles, CA / The Greek Theater%
October 1 2025 / Oslo, None / Center Scene#
October 3, 2025 / Copenhagen, DK / Vega#
October 4, 2025 / Stockholm, see / Fryshuset Arena#
October 6, 2025 / Cologne, from / Carlswerk Victoria#
October 9, 2025 / Amsterdam, NL / Melkweg# (Sold Sold)
October 10, 2025 / Amsterdam, NL / Paradiso# (Sold Sold)
October 12, 2025 / Brussels, Be / La Madeleine#
October 14, 2025 / Dublin, IE / 3olympia Theater & (Sold Sold)
October 15, 2025 / Manchester, UK / Manchester Academy &
October 16, 2025 / Glasgow, UK / SWG3 Galvanizers &
October 18, 2025 / Bristol, UK / SWX Bristol &
October 20, 2025 / London, UK / Roundhouse & (Sold)
October 21, 2025 / London, UK / Roundhouse &
October 23, 2025 / Paris, Fr / élysée Montmartre & (Sold Sold)
Octionhass 24th, 2025 / Paris, fr / Eyesselesary Montmartre &
October 26, 2025 / Zürich, CH / X-TRA#
October 27, 2025 / Berlin, de / Huxley’s New World#
October 30, 2025 / Frankfurt, from / Zoom Frankfurt#
November 1, 2025 / Vienna, AT / Gasometer#
November 2 2025 / Prague, CZ / Archa+#
November 4 2025 / Warsaw, PL / Club Child#
December 3, 2025 / Brisbane, AU / Fortitude Music Hall (Sold Sold)
December 4, 2025 / Brisbane, AU / Fortitude Music Hall
December 8, 2025 / Sydney, AU / on the stairs at Sydney Opera House Forecourt@
December 10 2025 / Melbourne, AU / Festival Hall@
