Greatest Video Recreation Soundtrack Grammy Nominations Do not Embody Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

The nominations listing for the 2026 Grammy awards dropped not too long ago, renewing the fierce yearly debates over what ought to win, what ought to lose, and what was snubbed fully. Within the gaming area, that is no totally different, as this 12 months marks the fourth time soundtracks for video video games and different interactive media are eligible for their very own class. If you have not seen the total listing but, listed below are this 12 months’s nominees.

If you happen to’ve been listening to the video games business this 12 months, there are a number of parts of this listing that really feel off. The primary is the discharge dates; three of the 5 video games (specifically Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Helldivers 2, and Star Wars Outlaws) fall squarely out of the everyday nomination window, which incorporates releases between August 31, 2024 and August 30, 2025. The catch, nonetheless, is that Avatar and Star Wars video games bought nominations for his or her DLC packs, which have been launched extra not too long ago – every base recreation was already nominated final 12 months. As for Helldivers II, a recreation launched in February 2024, my guess is that it is eligible due to its Xbox port this previous August. 

These types of timeline shenanigans aren’t extraordinary with Grammys, even in main classes. For instance, Wildflower by Billie Eilish was launched on an album in Could 2024, however as a result of it was re-released as a single in February 2025, it is up for File of the Yr and Track of the Yr at this 12 months’s awards.

The opposite approach this feels off, nonetheless, is the relative affect of every soundtrack throughout online game tradition. Star Wars and Avatar really feel misplaced on this regard as properly, as each video games are comparatively well-regarded however did not have the identical affect amongst avid gamers, and that sentiment extends to their soundtracks. Neither was nominated for finest music eventually 12 months’s recreation awards, for instance. However much less egregious than their inclusion means the exclusion of different enormous video games, most notably Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It is a large enough deal that nominee Austin Wintory known as it out on social media, even providing to commerce his place for the smash-hit RPG. Whereas we do assume it is an oversight, Wintory’s inclusion isn’t any shock, as he is at the moment tied for probably the most nominations within the class since its first 12 months. You possibly can learn extra on his background and method to composition on this interview from earlier this 12 months.

The opposite video game-specific information from this 12 months’s Grammy nominations is that The 8-Bit Massive Band, a jazz group that does covers of online game music, has been nominated in non-gaming classes for the third 12 months. Its current album, Orchestra Emulator, is up for Greatest Giant Jazz Ensemble Album, whereas the track “Tremendous Mario Reward Break” is up for Greatest Association, Instrumental or A Cappella. Whereas it’s extremely thrilling to see online game soundtracks get acknowledged in a devoted class, it is also thrilling to see basic recreation songs break into extra mainstream classes.

You possibly can learn the total listing of nominees for this 12 months’s Grammy Awards right here. The ceremony will air on Sunday, February 1, on CBS and Paramount+.

Which soundtracks do you assume ought to have been included on this 12 months’s Grammy Awards? Tell us within the feedback!