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 recognition of video game music. She highlighted the unique collaborative nature of composing for interactive experiences, emphasizing the connection between composer and player.
Phillips' win is a significant achievement, surpassing nominations from prominent 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 shared her surprise and deep respect for her fellow nominees, calling the recognition a career highlight.
She further elaborated on the distinctive challenges and rewards of composing for video games, describing the process as a collaboration with players, creating music that dynamically responds to their in-game choices and adventures.
Phillips joins a distinguished list of previous Grammy winners in this category, including Stephanie Economou (Assassin's Creed Valhalla) and Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor). The win for Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord builds upon the legacy of Christopher Tin's "Baba Yetu" (Civilization 4), the first video game music to receive a Grammy, in 2011.
