At the 67th Grammy Awards, the prestigious Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media was awarded to Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, a 3D remake of the groundbreaking 1981 medieval fantasy RPG. Composer Winifred Phillips, in accepting the award, expressed her gratitude to developer Digital Eclipse and the audience for their unwavering support and enthusiasm towards video game music. "Thank you for believing in music for games and recognizing it and for breathing life and enthusiasm and energy into what we do. It means so much," Phillips stated.
The original Wizardry, released in 1981, is celebrated as the pioneer of party-based video game RPGs and has influenced iconic series like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. The 3D remake, Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, is meticulously built upon the original game's code, allowing players to even view the classic Apple II interface during gameplay.
Phillips clinched the award over formidable contenders such as Wilbert Roget, II for Star Wars Outlaws, John Paesano for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Bear McCreary for God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla, and Pinar Toprak for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. In a subsequent interview, Phillips shared her surprise and gratitude, saying, "I really didn’t expect it. The category was populated with so much brilliance this year, and I have so much deep respect for the other nominees in this category. So to have been recognized is just a highlight of my career. It truly is."
She elaborated on the unique nature of composing for video games, stating, "We do a very unique thing. We’re creating music that needs to accompany people who are having an experience and who are making choices, and having adventures and living a grand story, and we’re creating the music for that story. It’s such a wonderful privilege because you feel like you’re collaborating with the players. Like you know them and they know you. It’s really very special."
Previous recipients of this esteemed award include Stephanie Economou for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. The first video game music to be recognized by the Grammys was Baba Yetu, arranged by Christopher Tin for Civilization 4, which won Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2011.
