Grammy-Winning 'Wizardry' Soundtrack Celebrates Victory

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, a 3D remake of the original 1981 RPG, has been awarded the Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media. Composer Winifred Phillips accepted the prestigious award, expressing gratitude to Digital Eclipse and the audience for their support and recognition of video game music. She highlighted the unique collaborative nature of composing for interactive experiences, emphasizing the connection between the music and the player's journey.

Phillips' victory was a significant achievement, surpassing nominations from prominent composers such as Wilbert Roget, II (Star Wars Outlaws), John Paesano (Marvel's Spider-Man 2), Bear McCreary (God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla), and Pinar Toprak (Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora). In a post-award interview, Phillips expressed her surprise and deep respect for her fellow nominees, calling the recognition a career highlight.

She further elaborated on the distinctive challenges and rewards of composing for video games, describing the process as a collaboration with players, creating a soundtrack that dynamically responds to their choices and adventures. This win follows in the footsteps of previous Grammy recipients for video game scores, including Stephanie Economou (Assassin's Creed Valhalla) and Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor). The award also marks a significant milestone in the history of video game music, building upon the legacy of Christopher Tin's "Baba Yetu" (Civilization 4), the first video game music to win a Grammy in 2011.