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 has achieved a monumental feat, winning the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media. Composer Winifred Phillips, in her acceptance speech, expressed heartfelt gratitude to developer Digital Eclipse and the audience, acknowledging their belief in and recognition of video game music, and their contribution to the vibrancy and energy of the field. This win holds immense significance for her.

This award celebrates the 3D remake of the original *Wizardry* game, a 1981 medieval fantasy title considered the first party-based video game RPG. Its influence is undeniable, inspiring classics like *Final Fantasy* and *Dragon Quest*. Remarkably, *Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord* is built directly upon the original game's code, even allowing players to view the original Apple II interface.

Phillips' victory was a triumph over stiff competition, including notable nominees such as Wilbert Roget, II (Ubisoft’s *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, a still-surprised Phillips shared her disbelief and respect for the fellow nominees, calling the recognition a career highlight. She eloquently described the unique nature of composing for video games, emphasizing the collaborative aspect of creating music that dynamically responds to player choices and experiences, creating a deeply personal connection between composer and player.

Phillips joins a prestigious list of previous winners, including Stephanie Economou (*Assassin's Creed Valhalla*) and Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab (*Star Wars Jedi: Survivor*). This win also builds upon the legacy of Christopher Tin's "Baba Yetu" from *Civilization 4*, the first video game music to win a Grammy (Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist) in 2011.