Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, a 3D remake of the pioneering RPG, has been awarded the Grammy 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 belief in and recognition of video game music, stating it was a career highlight.
Phillips' win was a significant achievement, surpassing strong competition from notable 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 described her surprise and respect for the fellow nominees. She highlighted the unique collaborative nature of video game music composition, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between the music and the player's experience.
This prestigious award continues a legacy of video game music recognition at the Grammys, following previous winners like Stephanie Economou (Assassin's Creed Valhalla) and Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor). The win also builds upon the historical significance of Christopher Tin's "Baba Yetu" (Civilization 4), the first video game music to receive a Grammy.
