SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – JANUARY 05: BTS arrives at the photo call for the 34th Golden Disc Awards on … [+] January 05, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by THE FACT/Imazins via Getty Images)
ImaZins via Getty Images
Late last week, game developer Netmarble revealed it has been working on a new mobile program titled BTS Universe Story that will “star” BTS, allowing fans who download the option to explore a brand new world created by designers and even potentially play as the members of the group.
The news of a new BTS product is often welcomed by the band’s die-hard fan base (known collectively as ARMYs), though this one might not be quite as exciting to some as a similar announcement that was made last year.
Back in mid-2019, BTS launched a game called BTS World, and to promote the program, they gave their listeners more of what they crave the most: new music. The South Korean favorites launched a soundtrack album of the same name, and they spent the month of June doling out singles, which saw them collaborating with the likes of Charli XCX, Zara Larsson and even Juice WRLD.
Recommended For You
The singles spun off of BTS World were hits on the World Digital Song Sales chart (where they all went to No. 1, adding to the group’s ever-increasing total), as well as on a number of other Billboard rankings. The set itself broke into the top 40 on the Billboard 200 and became one more leader on the World Albums roster, where BTS has succeeded time and time again.
This time around, there was no mention of a new album connected to BTS Universe Story, or even a song that might accompany the game, and fans probably shouldn’t expect a full-length of any sort to come with the program, based on the timing.
MORE FROM FORBESHere Is BTS’s Promotion Plan For Their Upcoming Single ‘Dynamite’By Hugh McIntyre
BTS Universe Story is apparently coming at some point in 2020’s third quarter, which ends in September. So, unless the game is pushed back, it will likely arrive in just a few weeks at most, and that is not an ideal time for the band to launch another album.
The septet just shared their latest Japanese effort Map of the Soul: 7 – The Journey a little over a month ago, and it is expected to return to the Billboard 200 this week, hitting a new high point in the process. As if that launch wasn’t enough to keep the band busy, they have a single scheduled for this coming Friday (August 21), and their management company Big Hit Entertainment has been open about the fact that BTS will drop another album by the end of 2020.
Between the continued success of their latest Korean LP Map of the Soul: 7 (which arrived to much fanfare back in February and which remains one of the most successful titles of the year), the surging Map of the Soul: 7 – The Journey and the forthcoming full-length (which doesn’t have a name or specific release date yet), there just doesn’t seem to be time for another compilation or soundtrack…though it would be wonderful to hear a new track created specifically for the program.