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The Guardian
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Video game music has arrived on the festival circuit – and it's only going to get bigger
Did you know that soundtrack concerts are among the most popular for touring orchestras? A full third of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's first-time audience members are coming to the concert hall via their favourite series and movies – and video games. It is a huge cultural growth area, and one that may have gone unrecognised by the general public. 'It is impossible to ignore video game music now,' says Tommy Pearson, founder and artistic director of the inaugural London Soundtrack festival. 'The sheer creativity and artistry in games is incredible, and it's been fascinating to see so many composers blossom in the genre.' As one of the lead architects behind the festival, Pearson was eager to make space for video games as part of the celebration – not just as an 'add-on' to TV and film soundtracks, but as an equal in the art form. 'When I was first thinking about what we would do at the festival, including games music was a no-brainer. It absolutely has to be there alongside film and TV music. It has a very dedicated audience of fans and the music is as good as anything being written in any genre.' Running from 19 to 26 March, the festival will consist of live performances, panel discussions, screenings, Q&As and masterclasses. One of the key events, State of the Art, will include performances of video game music by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, masterclasses from Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab – composers who recently collected Grammy and Ivor Novello awards for their work on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Why is 2025 the perfect time for the first Soundtrack festival in London? 'We're seeing millions of streams of game soundtracks, daily,' says Barton. 'There's a huge amount of social media content on Instagram and TikTok that ties into it, not to mention the world of Twitch where a streamer's playlist is a huge part of their identity. The record industry is just about catching on to this.' 'I see the streaming numbers climbing in real time, but beyond the data, you can sense it everywhere,' adds Haab. 'Game music isn't confined to consoles any more – it's woven into people's every day lives. My nieces and nephews, for example, have game soundtracks on rotation purely for enjoyment. At gaming events, fans know these themes note-for-note, singing them back with the same devotion you'd see at a concert. Even in broader entertainment circles – award shows, industry mixers – video game scores are part of the conversation now. They're treated with the same respect as film music, standing on their own as a legitimate art form. And if the surging demand for soundtrack releases tells us anything, it's that people aren't just listening: they're seeking it out.' Composers Ludvig Forssell (Death Stranding), Harry Gregson-Williams (Metal Gear Solid), Stephanie Economou (Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök), and Borislav Slavov (Baldur's Gate 3) will all be part of a panel discussing games music in the day, before joining the performances in the evening. 'You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who can't sing a tune from Super Mario Bros or Final Fantasy or Halo or The Legend of Zelda,' says Economou. 'Video game music is prevalent because video games are prevalent. The industry itself is more profitable than the film, television and music industry combined. So when people think that it's suddenly surging in popularity, all I can think is: no, it's just finally getting more recognition and celebration in more public spheres. I applaud the London Soundtrack festival for highlighting the art form and I'm thrilled to be part of the festival in its inaugural year.' 'The London Soundtrack festival is a great opportunity to celebrate the differences and diversities in music for media,' adds Forssell. 'Video games may still be the new kid on the block, in some senses, but they are definitely here to stay; and I hope that we as composers will always be able to have our own different approaches to music in general, be it pop, rock or music for film, TV, video games and beyond.' Pearson and the team of composers he has assembled see the event as a celebration of the state of video game music. 'These are all brilliant, hugely respected composers producing terrific and exciting scores that live in the game and in the concert hall very successfully,' Pearson says. Will non-gaming audiences ever accept video game music as much as TV or film? 'There will always be a bit of snobbery about media music,' Pearson says, 'But it's nowhere near as much as it used to be. And who cares what people think anyway?' London Soundtrack festival is at various venues until 26 March.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Play Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and More Games on PlayStation Plus Soon
PlayStation Plus subscribers can swing a lightsaber, use the Force and fight the tyrannical Galactic Empire as a Jedi knight in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor as of Feb. 18. PlayStation Plus is Sony's version of Xbox Game Pass, and it offers subscribers a large and constantly expanding library of games. There are three PlayStation Plus tiers -- Essential ($10 a month), Extra ($15 a month) and Premium ($18 a month) -- and each gives subscribers access to games. However, only subscribers to the Extra and Premium tiers can access the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. Here are the games PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can play soon. You can also check out the games Sony added to the service in January. Prepare to explore new worlds, and familiar ones, in a galaxy far, far away. This award-winning sequel picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and follows Cal Kestis, one of the last surviving Jedi following the destruction of the Jedi Order, as he continues his fight against the Empire. And while he does this with the help of his trusty droid, BD-1, and the usual Jedi tools, like a lightsaber and the Force, he can now use a blaster in combat, too -- Obi-Wan is shaking his head somewhere. This narrative adventure game takes place in the sleepy Michigan town of Velvet Cove, but at different times. You'll rewind back and forth between 1995 and 2022 to uncover life-changing secrets and why these four high school friends are reuniting after all these years. The dreampop soundtrack, ethereal vibes and serene environment give the game a feeling of beauty and strangeness. The first part of the game launches on the service on day one, and Sony said the second part of the game -- Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 2 -- will launch on PlayStation Plus on April 15. Before Serena Williams danced at the Super Bowl halftime show, she cemented her name as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, if not the greatest. And in this game, PS Plus subscribers can take on her and other tennis legends. You can play at iconic events like the Australian Open, train with John McEnroe, and create your own play style. And with new gameplay mechanics, like the serve mechanic, you'll dominate the court in local and online multiplayer. PlayStation Plus subscriptions start at $10 a month See at Playstation The above titles are a few that PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can play soon, and those subscribers will be able to play these games then, too. Dropship: United Peace Force*MordhauPatapon 3*SaGa Frontier RemasteredSomervilleTin Hearts *Premium only. For more on PlayStation Plus, here's what to know about the service, and here's a rundown of PS Plus Extra and Premium games added in January. You can also check out the latest and upcoming games on Xbox Game Pass, on Apple Arcade and on Netflix Games.
