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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Left Off 2026 Grammy Video Game Score Shortlist, Prompting Industry Backlash

The omission prompted prominent composers to publicly endorse the soundtrack's worthiness.

Overview

  • The Recording Academy's nominees are Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Secrets of the Spires, Helldivers 2, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card & A Pirate’s Fortune, and Sword of the Sea.
  • Sword of the Sea composer Austin Wintory, a nominee, said he was “sad at the lack of Expedition 33” and that he would “happily trade places.”
  • Emmy winner Geoff Zanelli agreed with Wintory’s sentiment while noting it is “hard to throw one of these 5 out,” as fans online called the snub “out of touch.”
  • Lorien Testard’s score has topped the Billboard Classical chart, won at the 2025 World Soundtrack Awards, and supported four sold-out orchestral shows in France.
  • Coverage highlighted eligibility quirks involving DLC releases and timing windows, while Clair Obscur holds multiple Golden Joystick nominations and awaits potential recognition at The Game Awards with nominations due mid-November.