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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The melodies of the metaverse, the pleasant chime of a chip song, or the next hot "Super Mario Bros" remix - video game music is virtually limitless.
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The Recording Academy announced its inaugural "Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media" category, reflecting the rising popularity of the video game industry and years of support from game composers.
Out of the 70 original scores submitted for the category's debut year, five will compete at the Grammys on Sunday. Austin Wintory for "Aliens: Fireteam Elite" is one of the candidates. "Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok," Stephanie Economou "Call of Duty: Vanguard" by Bear McCreary Christopher Tin for "Old World" and Richard Jacques for "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy."
According to data analytics company Newzoo, the success of video game music corresponds with the general rise of the global games sector, which produced total sales of $184.4 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to reach $211.2 billion revenue by 2025.
During the COVID-19 epidemic, the video game industry thrived as people increasingly turned to digital amusement during lockdowns.
"It was just a matter of time until the Grammys noticed that there were a lot of soundtracks for video games being made, and they're all really fantastic," Tin told Reuters.
Tin's "Baba Yetu" theme for "Civilization IV" won the "Best Instrumental Arrangement" Grammy in 2011, earning him the first video game nominee and winner, while Wintory's soundtrack for "Journey" was nominated for "Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media" in 2012.
"For some time now, video games have been making waves with new income sources," Uziel Colon, who helped establish the new category, told the Grammys. "Video games and music will blend in the future - it's already occurring."
However, video game music has not always touched all of the appropriate notes to be acknowledged especially at the Grammys.
"Video game music has been eligible for the Grammys since 1999, and just one score has ever been nominated previously, which was 10 years ago. "I guess there were some folks who were disappointed," Wintory told Reuters.
Wintory stated that when the category was "Best Score Soundtrack for Film, Television, and Other Media," video games were not nominated at all since being branded "Other Media" was "marginalising" them as a type of random category.
However, game music is breaking new ground thanks to technology advancements and new ways for customers to enjoy it.
Live immersive video game concerts, video game scores on platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and Fortnite, remixes and collaborations, augmented and virtual reality, and even eye-tracking technology are examples of this.
According to Economou, Grammy recognition validates that video game music is affecting "the musical landscape of civilization."
McCreary, who has written music for famous series such as "Battlestar Galactica," "The Walking Dead," and "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," feels that composing for games, movies, and TV shows is similar.
"Story and subject are universal for me," he told Reuters.
Nonetheless, he claims that video games provide new problems for composers since they are engaged experiences rather than simply being seen by an audience.
The music must "function in a unique technical capacity that goes beyond just supporting story," he adds.
Working with game developers and audio teams helps him produce music that can be seamlessly integrated into a video game.
"It's an unprecedented intimate relationship in the entertainment industry," McCreary added.
