"Ready For Love" is a promotional single by South Korean girl group BLACKPINK, released as part of their collaboration with the battle royale video game PUBG Mobile. The song made its debut as an animated music video on YouTube on July 29, 2022, marking the group's first Korean release since their album "The Album" in 2020. This collaboration has caused a revolution in the entertainment industry, connecting the gaming and music worlds through an innovative in-game virtual concert titled "BLACKPINK: The Virtual".

The partnership between PUBG Mobile and BLACKPINK has provided an immersive and dynamic experience for players and fans alike, allowing them to come together and engage in a new form of entertainment. This groundbreaking cross-promotion has successfully expanded the ever-evolving world of battle royale games while setting the stage for artists and fans to interact closely beyond borders and language barriers in a virtual world.

Album

Released

July 29, 2022

Recorded

2020

Genre

Pop, house-pop, EDM

Length

3:04

Label

YG Entertainment

Interscope Records

Writer

Teddy, VVN

Music

Teddy, VVN, 24, Kush, Bekuh BOOM

Arrange

24

Song chronology

Tally

BLACKPINK's collaboration with PUBG Mobile marks a significant step in bridging the worlds of K-pop and gaming. The partnership began in 2020 when BLACKPINK's single "How You Like That" was featured as lobby music in the game. This initial collaboration included themed in-game items and visuals, allowing players to experience BLACKPINK's iconic style within the game.

In 2022, BLACKPINK and PUBG Mobile took their partnership to new heights with "THE VIRTUAL," the first-ever in-game virtual concert for both the group and the game. The concert, which ran over two weekends in July, attracted a total of 15.7 million views. Players could obtain tickets, watch the live performance, and engage in interactive gameplay within the PUBG Mobile environment.

This collaboration has caused a revolution in the entertainment industry, connecting gaming and music audiences in innovative ways. The partnership included the debut of a new special track, "Ready For Love," which was showcased during the virtual concert. The music video for this track transported BLACKPINK's avatars into iconic PUBG Mobile locations, further immersing viewers in the gaming world.

"Ready For Love" is a dance-pop song that features a beat-drop chorus with a catchy repetition of the titular phrase. The track's production has been described as somewhat underwhelming, with some listeners finding the instrumental "faceless and oddly cheap". The drop, which should be the focal point of the song, has been criticized for lacking impact and proper arrangement. Some fans have compared it unfavorably to other BLACKPINK drops, noting that it sounds "low effort".

The song's lyrics touch on themes of perseverance and determination. However, some listeners have found certain elements of the lyrics to be grating, particularly the adlib "call me when you ready cause you know I'm already ready". The rap section has also received mixed reactions, with some fans expressing disappointment. Despite these criticisms, Jisoo's last verse has been highlighted as a positive aspect of the song.

"Ready For Love" has an interesting history, with parts of the song first appearing in the Netflix documentary "Light Up The Sky" in October 2020. A demo version of the song leaked online in August 2021. While comparisons between the leaked and final versions are limited in the available information, it's worth noting that the song's journey from its initial creation to its official release spanned a considerable time, potentially influencing its final form.

The music video for "Ready For Love" showcases BLACKPINK's realistic three-dimensional avatars dancing and singing. These avatars represent the members in a virtual environment, aligning with the collaboration between BLACKPINK and PUBG Mobile. The design of the avatars has been praised, with some fans noting that PUBG Mobile "did far better than anyone" in creating the virtual representations of the group members.

The music video features a fantasy setting, creating an aesthetic visual experience. Each member's avatar represents different places on the game maps, showcasing the integration of BLACKPINK's presence within the PUBG Mobile universe. This unique approach has caused a revolution in the entertainment industry, connecting the gaming and music worlds in an innovative way.

The collaboration between BLACKPINK and PUBG Mobile resulted in a visually striking music video that blends the group's iconic style with the game's virtual world. The production quality has been noted by fans, with the avatars described as having "actual human features" and looking "somewhat realistic". This attention to detail in the avatar design and the integration of game environments has contributed to the overall visual spectacle of the music video.