Austin Wintory Wins Grammy for Sword of the Sea Soundtrack
- Sagar Mankar
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The 2026 Grammy Awards concluded on February 1 with winners across 95 categories, but for the gaming community, all eyes were on one particular honor: Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media.
This year, the award went to Austin Wintory for his orchestral work on Sword of the Sea, an indie surfing adventure released on PS5 and PC last August.
Developed by Giant Squid, Sword of the Sea stood out not only for its meditative gameplay but also for its immersive soundtrack. Wintory’s composition captured the serene yet powerful essence of the game, earning him recognition in a category.
The competition was fierce, with several high-profile titles nominated alongside Sword of the Sea:
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Secrets of the Spire (Pinar Toprak)
Helldivers 2 (Wilbert Roget II)
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Gordy Haab)
Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card & A Pirate’s Fortune (Cody Matthew Johnson & Wilbert Roget II)
Interestingly, before nominations were revealed last November, fans had rallied behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, composed by Lorien Testard. Despite strong community support, the game was left off the Grammy list entirely. Committees did not consider it, which sparked disappointment among fans. Still, the soundtrack later won Best Score at The Game Awards 2025, softening the blow but leaving questions about how Grammy selections are made.
Wintory’s victory also carries historical weight. Back in 2013, his score for Journey earned a nomination for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media, marking the first time a video game was recognized in that category. The creation of a dedicated Grammy category for video game soundtracks in 2022 expanded opportunities for recognition.
Since its introduction at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in 2023, the category has celebrated diverse winners:
2023: Stephanie Economou (Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok)
2024: Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor)
2025: Winifred Phillips (Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord)
Now, in 2026, Austin Wintory joins this growing list of composers whose work highlights the artistry of video game music.
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