Winifred Phillips Wins Grammy for Best Video Game Soundtrack

At the 67th Grammy Awards, the prestigious accolade for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media was awarded to the captivating soundtrack of Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord. Composer Winifred Phillips, in her heartfelt acceptance speech, expressed gratitude towards developer Digital Eclipse and the audience for their unwavering support and enthusiasm for 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," she said, highlighting the significance of the recognition.

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is a 3D remake of the seminal 1981 game, which is renowned as the first party-based video game RPG. This iconic title has inspired countless RPGs, including giants like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. The remake stays true to its roots by being built directly on the original game's code, offering players the unique ability to toggle between the modern interface and the classic Apple II view.

Phillips clinched the award against formidable competition, including Wilbert Roget, II for Ubisoft’s 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. Reflecting on her win in a subsequent interview, Phillips shared, "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 further 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 Ubisoft’s Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab for Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Notably, the first video game music to win a Grammy in any category was "Baba Yetu," arranged by Christopher Tin for Firaxis’ Civilization 4, which triumphed at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2011 for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist.