Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, a 3D remake of the seminal 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' win is a significant achievement, surpassing strong competition from notable composers 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-ceremony interview, she expressed her surprise and deep appreciation for the recognition, calling it a career highlight.
Phillips' comments underscored the distinctive challenge and reward of composing for video games, where music dynamically responds to player choices and actions, fostering a unique collaborative relationship between composer and player.
This Grammy win builds on a legacy of video game music recognition, following previous winners such as Stephanie Economou (Assassin's Creed Valhalla) and Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor). The award also marks a significant milestone since Christopher Tin's "Baba Yetu" (Civilization 4) became the first video game music to win a Grammy in 2011.
