GRAMMY Spotlight: Celebrating Game Music on Music’s Biggest Stage
The GRAMMY Awards were held this Sunday, February 1 and game music once again took center stage. This year’s nominees included Pinar Toprak, Gordy Haab, Austin Wintory, Wilbert Roget, II, and Cody Matthew Johnson—an extraordinary group of composers whose work continues to elevate game audio on a global stage.
A HUGE congratulations to GRAMMY Winner Austin Wintory! 🎉
Austin’s win is a powerful recognition of the artistry, emotional impact, and creative ambition that define modern game music. We’re especially proud to celebrate Austin as a member of the G.A.N.G. Advisory Board, and grateful for his continued contributions to the game audio community. We also want to congratulate all of this year’s nominees for representing game music at the highest level.
As a reminder, GRAMMY voters play a vital role in ensuring game music continues to be recognized alongside film, television, and classical works. Thoughtful listening and informed voting help strengthen the visibility and future of game audio as an art form.
Membership for the Recording Academy as a voting or professional member is closing March 1. Joining enables you to participate in the voting process for the GRAMMY Awards, which is decided solely by peers in the music industry. You can submit your game’s soundtrack during the annual online entry process, which for the 69th GRAMMYs will be from July 22 – August 28, 2026.
To learn more about eligibility, submissions, or voting, visit grammy101.com or grammy.com/join
24th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards
Join us for the 24th Annual Game Audio Network Guild Awards, returning to the Moscone Center in San Francisco during the Game Developers Conference. This year, we’re switching things up—the G.A.N.G. Awards will take place on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT (Yes, Wednesday, Not Thursday!).
The G.A.N.G. Awards celebrate excellence in game audio across music, sound design, voiceover, and more. Admission is free with a valid GDC Festival Pass, and seating is first-come, first-served. Please plan to arrive early, as the program will begin promptly at 7:00 PM.
Event Schedule:
- 6:30 PM – Red Carpet for Nominees
- 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – G.A.N.G. Awards
- 9:00 PM – 10:30 PM – Post-Show Mixer
Location:
Moscone West, San Francisco
Registration is now open:
As a reminder, members of G.A.N.G. receive 10% off GDC registration—visit the G.A.N.G. Perks Page for details.
We look forward to celebrating with you in San Francisco!
New Horror on Steam: Imprinted and More to Watch
A new psychological horror game Imprinted has just been announced for PC via Steam, blending eerie audio restoration with atmospheric storytelling that puts sound design front and center. In Imprinted, you play as a jaded sound engineer tasked with restoring corrupted 1970s audio tapes connected to a mysterious musician who disappeared under unsettling circumstances — and what you uncover may be more than just lost music.
This ghost-story-meets-audio thriller leans on sound as both mechanic and narrative, letting audio clues pull you deeper into a mystery where creativity itself becomes haunting. The game is expected to launch later in 2026, and you can wishlist it now on Steam.
In other horror news:
- A long-lost 1995 horror adventure titled Edgar Allan Poe’s Interactive Horror: 1995 Edition resurfaced on Steam thanks to a surprise release from a new publisher, drawing attention back to this cult classic with its stop-motion puppetry and unnerving storytelling.
- A free Baptiste demo drops on Steam now — a psychological horror experience inspired by Resident Evil and P.T., designed to test your nerves in a haunted mansion setting.
Whether you’re into subtle audio-driven haunting or good old mansion scares, there’s plenty to wishlist and explore if horror is on your radar this year.
Read the full article: https://gamerant.com/new-horror-games-on-steam-imprinted/
Riven Remake Delivers Immersive Sound and Puzzle Atmosphere
The highly anticipated 2024 remake of Riven — the classic sequel to Myst — has landed on modern platforms, and critics and players alike are highlighting just how powerful its world-building is, especially through sound. Even with updated graphics and intricate puzzles, many players say it’s the ambient soundtrack and environmental audio that truly define the experience, painting the mysterious islands with sonic depth that keeps you immersed long after you put the controller down.
One of the most exciting elements for longtime fans is the return of original composer Robyn Miller, who has created new music for the remake while weaving in themes that echo the franchise’s legacy. A preview track from the upcoming soundtrack has already been shared by Cyan Worlds, hinting at the direction of the game’s atmospheric score.
Across the community, players continue to praise how sound elevates the puzzle exploration — from mechanical ambience to thematic music — making Riven’s eerie, puzzle-filled world feel profoundly alive. Whether you’re solving ancient riddles or just soaking in the audio landscape, this remake is a standout example of how thoughtful sound design can shape narrative experiences in games.
For more on the remake and its immersive audio, check the full story here: Read the announcement on Kotaku
G.A.N.G. Hang at NAMM: Thanks for Joining Us!
We had a great time at our annual G.A.N.G. Hang at NAMM, and it was wonderful seeing so many familiar and new faces during the convention. These meetups are always a highlight for us—bringing the game audio community together to connect, catch up, and share a few laughs in person.
Thank you to everyone who came out and made it such a fun and welcoming gathering. Be sure to check out the photo below from the event, and stay tuned for details on our next G.A.N.G. Hang.
20 New Game Audio Job Openings from Soundlister
Here’s a roundup of recent game‑audio-related job openings, aggregated by Soundlister as of January 22, 2026:
- XITE (Netherlands): Junior Music Curator
- Boneshock Studio (SC, US): Lead Sound Designer
- Ubisoft Montpellier (France): Senior Technical Sound Designer
- Bohemia Interactive (Czech Republic): Sound Designer
- Hacksaw Studios (Sweden): Sound Designer
- LEGO Design (Denmark): Senior Sound Designer
- Side (QC, Canada): Freelance Audio Editor
- The Giant Network (Shanghai, China): Overseas Content Operations (AI Video & Music Directions)
- Carmelite Studios (England): Audiobook Producer / Engineer
- CD PROJEKT RED (Poland): Technical Music Designer
- Carmelite Studios (England): DJ Music Educator
For more details and links to apply, check out the full list here: Soundlister – 20 Great New Audio Jobs
That’s a wrap for this edition
From GRAMMY wins to retro music simulators, haunted puzzles to exciting new audio careers, game audio continues to inspire, challenge, and connect our community. Whether you’re crafting immersive worlds, celebrating colleagues, or chasing your next big opportunity—your sound makes games come alive.
Stay creative, stay inspired, and we’ll see you soon!