Level Up: rouri404 Talks a Little Gaming—NBA 2K, League of Legends & Subscription Services

While certainly a form of self-expression, for rouri404, music also represented a refuge. It’s a place where he found comfort and belonging, and it is now the place in which he thrives. The songwriter and artist has recently been releasing some singles, including our summer premiere of his song “miss it.” Released via Red Bull Records, it represented a new direction for the Los Angeles emo-electronic artist. The song is an energetic representation of his hyperpop roots. He has become well-versed in delivering highly satisfying guitar-driven rock and emo. A great example of which is his latest drop, “videostar.”

It’s been quite a climb to respect and relevancy for rouri404 since his childhood. Born Joseph (Joey) Cash in Orlando, Florida, he dropped out of school at 16 and battled substance abuse issues. By 2021, he finally began to more fully invest himself in his art and his passion. It represented a way forward for him at a very vulnerable time. It was around this time that he adopted the name rouri404. His striking GORE EP would come the following year, and he began to emerge as a songwriter and musician.

Considering the context of his music, it’s probably not a surprise that rouri404 is also into gaming. He joins us for a Level Up interview to tell us more about the gaming side of his life.

What video game introduced you to the world of gaming?

rouri404: “The first games I played that really got me into playing were Rock Band/Guitar Hero and the Skate franchise!”

What are your favourite types of games to play?

“Weirdly, I’ve always liked sports games like NBA 2K, but I also play a lot of League of Legends and some first-person shooter games as well.”

Why do you think gaming is an important part of our culture?

“I think games are as important an art medium as movies or music; it’s a great mix of different forms of art that helps bring people together and can be very therapeutic.”

rouri404 “Videostar” single artwork

If you were given an unlimited budget to create a video game based on your music, what would it look like?

“I want to say something similar to Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts, maybe an RPG game with a good story. I grew up playing a lot of similar stuff, so I definitely would pull from those!”

Do you prefer console or PC?

“PC for sure, although I think the console experience for more casual games is better.”

How do you think gaming culture will evolve in the upcoming years?

“I think subscription-based services are going to take the forefront of everything, same as streaming services have for movies/music. Also, I think cloud gaming is going to be massive soon.”

rouri404 in 2025, photo by Attiken Vega

rouri404 in 2025, photo by Attiken Vega

How would you introduce someone to gaming who has never played a video game before?

“Fortnite.”

Which video game have you logged the most hours in?

“NBA 2K has taken years of my life. I have around 8,000 hours across all the titles. It’s kind of sad, can’t lie.”

What is the most beautiful game you’ve ever played?

“Civilization games, I think, are really pretty. I love the music and ambience of them.”

Much has been made about whether video games can be art – what do you think?

“I think the way games mix audio, visual, and storytelling makes them one of the most raw artistic art forms. It’s truly an amalgamation of every type of art.”

Which video game gets you the most competitive?

“Definitely League of Legends or NBA 2K.”

Do you prefer playing solo, versus, cooperative, or competitive?

“Personally, I love solo and co-op games, stuff I can just get lost in or play with my girlfriend, are the best.”