Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, a 3D remake of the original 1981 RPG, has received the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media. Composer Winifred Phillips expressed her gratitude to Digital Eclipse and the audience for their recognition of video game music, stating it was a career highlight.
Phillips' win was a significant achievement, surpassing strong competition from nominees including 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, she described her surprise and respect for the fellow nominees.
Phillips highlighted the unique nature of video game music composition, emphasizing its collaborative aspect with players as they experience the game's narrative and make choices within it. She described the process as a special privilege, feeling a connection with the players through the music.
The award continues a legacy of video game music recognition at the Grammys, following previous winners such as Stephanie Economou (Assassin's Creed Valhalla) and Stephen Barton & Gordy Haab (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor). The award also builds upon the groundbreaking win of Christopher Tin's "Baba Yetu" (Civilization 4) in 2011, marking the first video game music to receive a Grammy.
