“Death Stranding” swept the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.) Awards, including winning the top prize of audio of the year. For the first time, the G.A.N.G. Awards were streamed live on Twitch.tv and featured a pre- and post-show on Wednesday night.
A genre-defying action experience by Kojima Productions, “Death Stranding” also won sound design of the year. Other winners of the evening included “Cordova’s Theme” from “Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order” for best original choral composition and “Call of Duty: Mobile” for best sound design in a casual/social game.
Said G.A.N.G. president Brian Schmidt: “In this our 18th year, we again recognize the highest achievements in game music, sound and dialogue. We are also excited to round out our indie categories with the new best dialogue for an indie game award, helping recognize the amazing work done by the smallest of teams. Although the show is online this year, the spirit of community of the Game Audio Network Guild continues unabated.”
The event was hosted by Wilbert Roget II and Cody Matthew Johnson.
See the full list of winners below:
Audio of The Year
“Death Stranding” – Kojima Productions – WINNER “Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order”- Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts “Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare” (2019) – Infinity Ward “Mortal Kombat 11” – NetherRealm Studios “Borderlands 3” – Gearbox Software
Music of the Year
“Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” (Gordy Haab and Stephen Barton) – Respawn – WINNER Entertainment/Electronic Arts
“Erica” – Flavourworks “Fantastic Creatures” – Blue Callisto “Undersea” – Magic Leap Studios “Borderlands 3” – Gearbox Software “Rend” – Frostkeep Studios
Sound Design of the Year
“Death Stranding “- Kojima Productions – WINNER “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts “Borderlands 3”- Gearbox Software “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” (2019) – Infinity Ward “Mortal Kombat 11” – NetherRealm Studios
Best Cinematic / Cutscene Audio
Death Stranding – Kojima Productions – WINNER “World of Warcraft: Battle” For Azeroth Patch 8.25 – Blizzard Entertainment “Concrete Genie” – Pixelopus “Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order” – Reason Entertainment/Electronic Arts “Destiny 2: Shadowkeep” – Bungie “Gears 5”- The Coalition
Best Dialogue
“Death Stranding “- Kojima Productions – WINNER “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” (2019) – Infinity Ward “Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order” – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts “Gears 5” – The Coalition “Control” – Remedy Entertainment
Best Dialogue for an Indie Game “Golem” – Highwire Games LLC – WINNER “Dance of Death: Du Lac & Fey” – Salix Games “Deliver Us The Moon” – KeokeN Interactive
Best Original Instrumental
“Erica” – Flavourworks “Know Thyself” (Austin Wintory) – Flavourworks – WINNER “Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order” – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts “Bee Simulator” – Varsav Game Studios “Mortal Kombat 11” – NetherRealm Studios “Control” – Remedy
Best Music for an Indie Game “Bee Simulator” (Mikolai Stroinski) – Varsav Game Studios – WINNER “Sky: Children of the Light” – thatgamecompany “Astrologaster” – Nyamyam “Outer Wilds” – Mobius Digital “Slay the Spire” – MegaCrit
Best Sound Design in a Casual/Social Game
“Call of Duty: Mobile” – TiMi Studios/ Activision – WINNER “Hearthstone: Saviors of Uldum” – Blizzard Entertainment “Kine” – Chump Squad “Honor of Kings 2.0” – TiMi Studios “Grindstone” – Capybara Games “Sky: Children of the Light”- thatgamecompany
Best Sound Design for an Indie Game
“Deliver Us The Moon – KeokeN Interactive – WINNER “Golem” – Highwire Games “Knights & Bikes“ – Foam Sword “Astroneer” – System Era Softworks “Hunt: Showdown” – Crytek “Deliver Us The Moon”
Best Music for a Casual / Social Game
“Honor of Kings 2.0” – TiMi Studios – WINNER “Sky: Children of the Light” – thatgamecompany “Astrologaster “- Nyamyam “Bee Simulator” – Varsav Game Studios “Hearthstone: Rise of Shadows ” – Blizzard Entertainment Best Interactive Score “Erica (Austin Wintory)” – Flavourworks – WINNER “Outer Wilds” – Mobius Digital “Concrete Genie” – Pixelopus “Death Stranding” – Kojima Productions “Borderlands 3 “- Gearbox Software
Best Original Choral Composition
“Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order “- “Cordova’s Theme” (Gordy Haab and Stephen Barton) Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts – WINNER “Astrologaster” – Nyamyam “Rend” – Frostkeep Studios “Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm” – Firaxis Games “Elsinore” – Golden Glitch Studios
Best Original Song
“Giants” from League of Legends (Jared Lee, Jessica Karpov, Kole Hicks, Umar Ibrahim) – Riot Games – WINNER “BB’s Theme” from Death Stranding – Kojima Productions “Saudade” from Resident Evil 2 – Capcom “Fair as a Rose” from Elsinore – Golden Glitch Studios “Days Gone Quiet” from Days Gone – SIE Bend Studio “Constellation” from Sky: Children of the Light – thatgamecompany
Best Original Soundtrack Album
Death Stranding (Ludvig Forssell) – Kojima Productions – WINNER Erica – Flavourworks Bee Simulator – Varsav Game Studios Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm – Firaxis Games Control – Remedy Entertainment Elsinore – Golden Glitch Studios Sole – Gossamer Games
Best Game Audio Publication, Presentation, or Broadcast
100 Unusual, Novel, Surprising Ways to be a Better Sound Designer in Video Games – Rob Bridgett – WINNER Thoughts on Game Audio History – Kenneth C M Young Lydia Andrew: The audio of assassination – John Broomhall/Resolution Magazine Guide: How to Survive a Game Audio Layoff – Insights from Damian Kastbauer – Jennifer Walden and Asbjoern Andersen Call of Duty: Modern Warfare – Infinity Ward
Best Audio Mix
(Tie) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) – Infinity Ward – WINNER (Tie) Death Stranding – Kojima Productions – WINNER Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order – Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts Borderlands 3 – Gearbox Software Apex Legends – Respawn Entertainment Concrete Genie – Pixelopus Control – Remedy Entertainment
Best Virtual Reality Audio
Journey of the Gods – WINNER Dragons: Flight Academy -DreamWorks How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Virtual Tour Undersea Blood and Truth Vacation Simulator
Best Game Music Cover/ Remix Chrono Trigger “The Trial” (John Robert Matz, Producer) – WINNER Borderlands 3 – Gearbox, Finishing Move Inc Mario Kart 64 – John Stacy Suikoden II KDET – Arranged and Conducted by Kentaro Sato Donkey Kong Country – Ross Casey
G.A.N.G. / MAGFest People’s Choice Award
Cadence of Hyrule – WINNER Distinguished Service Award Emmanuel Lagumbay (G.A.N.G. Communications Director) – WINNER Breakout Talent Award – WINNER Laryssa Okada (Composer)
G.A.N.G. Recognition Award – WINNER
Guy Whitmore (Composer)
