Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord Composer Winifred Phillips Wins Grammy for Best Soundtrack in a Video Game

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, a 3D remake of the original 1981 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 recognition of video game music, stating that the win is a career highlight.

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

Phillips highlighted the unique nature of composing for video games, emphasizing the collaborative aspect of creating music that dynamically interacts with player choices and experiences. She described the process as a special privilege, feeling a connection with the players through the music.

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.