Grammy Winning Composer's Game Debuts

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 fans, highlighting the significance of this recognition for the video game music industry. She stated that the award "means so much" and represents a career highlight.

Phillips' win was a notable achievement, surpassing strong competition from 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, she described her surprise and respect for the fellow nominees.

Phillips emphasized the unique nature of video game music composition, highlighting the collaborative aspect with players as they experience the game's narrative. She described the process as a "wonderful privilege," feeling a connection with the players as they engage with the music and story.

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 and Gordy Haab (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor). The win also builds upon the groundbreaking achievement of Christopher Tin's "Baba Yetu" (Civilization 4), the first video game music to win a Grammy in 2011.