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' victory was a significant achievement, surpassing nominations from highly acclaimed 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-Grammy interview, Phillips expressed her surprise and deep appreciation for the recognition, emphasizing the exceptional talent of the other nominees.
She further elaborated on the distinctive challenges and rewards of composing for video games, describing the process as a collaborative storytelling experience where the music dynamically interacts with the player's choices and adventures.
This Grammy win adds to a legacy of video game music recognition, following previous winners like Stephanie Economou (Assassin's Creed Valhalla) and Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor). The award also underscores the growing acceptance of video game soundtracks within the broader music industry, tracing back to Christopher Tin's groundbreaking Grammy win for "Baba Yetu" (Civilization 4) in 2011.
