Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has won the first video game soundtrack Grammy

The first ever video game soundtrack Grammy has been won by Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök.

Stephanie Economou, who composed the score for the DLC expansion, won the inaugural Grammy in the category ‘Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media’.

Economou’s score beat those of Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Call of Duty: Vanguard, Marvel’s Guardians of The Galaxy and Old World.

Speaking to the official Grammy website, Economou said she felt “shocked and amazed” to win the award.

“I’m honoured, especially because this is the first year this category exists,” she explained. “So it’s big, it’s a big thing, and I feel very validated by this community and I’m beyond grateful to be here.

When asked if there was anyone she forgot to thank during her speech, Economou said: “I hope I covered most people, but truly, the main people I want to thank for this win are the musicians, the soloists who made this score what it is.”

She added: “Everyone who made this score really special, I share this moment with you.”

According to the Recording Academy, the award “recognizes excellence in score soundtrack albums comprised predominately of original scores and created specifically for, or as a companion to, a current video game or other interactive media released within the qualification period.”

In a statement made last year acknowledging five new categories including video game soundtrack, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr said: “We’re so excited to honour these diverse communities of music creators through the newly established awards and amendments, and to continue cultivating an environment that inspires change, progress and collaboration.

“The Academy’s top priority is to effectively represent the music people that we serve, and each year, that entails listening to our members and ensuring our rules and guidelines reflect our ever-evolving industry.”

Further reading

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An orchestra’s Kirby cover song just won a Grammy

The 8-Bit Big Band was awarded Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

Although this is the first Grammy award specifically aimed at video game music, it isn’t the first video game project to win a Grammy.

Last year 8-Bit Big Band – a 30-65 member Jazz/Pops orchestra based in New York City which performs video game music – won a Grammy for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella, for its cover of Meta Knight’s Revenge from 1996 SNES title Kirby Superstar.