In the 1970s, when the first video game soundtracks appeared, I bet few people in the industry expected music to become such a vital aspect of the gaming experience.

Back then, sounds were created using tones generated by the console’s circuits. Think of Pong, one of the first arcade video games, which would play the now-iconic monotone sound whenever you hit the ball.

Luckily for us, the technology has evolved at a ground-breaking speed since then – first allowing us to efficiently convert electrical impulses into audio, and then to incorporate more and more complex soundscapes, thanks to the gradual technological upgrade from 8-bit to 16-bit, and later to 32 and 64-bit.

Over 25 years later, the theme song of the video game Civilization IV would be the first video game music composition to win a Grammy Award.

Today, we can drive around realistic virtual cities while listening to our favourite radio on GTA, get pumped up listening to the industrial metal soundtrack of Doom Eternal, or be enchanted by the depth and poignancy of Shadow Of The Colossus.

All thanks to the influential scores these video games feature.

Video game music has gained such popularity that even the world of classical music recognised its importance and artistic quality.

When in 2004, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra played live the main theme of Final Fantasy by Nobuo Uematsu, the status of video game music was elevated once and for all, and music composers working in the gaming industry have been celebrated for their works ever since.

The importance of audio in the gaming ecosystem has evolved hand in hand with the technology that made it possible to include more and more intricate compositions.

As a result, the quality of contemporary video game soundtracks can be compared to the ones made for movies, and today it's not uncommon for the OST of a video game to be available on most music streaming platforms as a standalone work of art.

Perhaps, the synchronicity of music and visuals in video games results in an even more immersive effect than the one we see in films: while playing, we're the main character, in control of the situation, and therefore our senses are further enhanced and excited by sounds.

Let's take a look at how music in video games has evolved over the years and what we can expect from the future of video game music.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF VIDEO GAME MUSIC

Pong was the first game to incorporate digital audio. Back then, the technology to convert electrical impulses into digital audio was just at the beginning, and music still required to be stored physically.

As a result, Pong’s developers came up with a solution that would make use of the limited abilities of the sound chip to create a monotone sound.

Things got more interesting in the 1980s, during the 8-bit era of arcade games. That’s when production companies started hiring composers to create a score for their video games.

Calling these works compositions might be a bit of a stretch, but these were undoubtedly soundtracks that revolutionised how we perceived music while playing video games.

These were the times of catchy tunes, and as technological limitations made it challenging to create enveloping soundtracks, composers would often create memorable jingles that players connected to the video game right away.

Just think of Bubble Bobble’s main theme or the underwater theme of Super Mario Bros.

If you're a Millennial like me, surely you remember many of these generation-defining soundtracks.

A new revolution came in the late 1980s, with the rise of 16-bit microprocessors and the beginning of the so-called fourth generation of video game consoles, or the “16-bit era”.

Digital audio playback became common, and so did stereo audio, making soundtracks more enveloping and complex.

By the early 1990s, some composers stood out and laid the foundations for the following generations of video game soundtrack creators.

Among them were Nobuo Uematsu, the composer of the soundtrack for the legendary Final Fantasy, and Koji Kondo, who made music for Super Mario and The Legend Of Zelda series.

The 16-bit era is considered by many as the golden age of gaming: a turning point in the evolution and importance of video game soundtracks.

This was a time when production companies pushed the boundaries of what was technologically feasible.

The hardware limitations were often compensated by carefully-crafted storylines and engaging visual environments, further enriched by tailored soundtracks that would perfectly fit with the video game’s moods and atmospheres.

In the mid-1990s, the world of video games changed once again with the dawn of the fifth-generation era of gaming consoles, which introduced music at a 16-bit depth and 44.1 kHz sampling rate.

Since this is the standard CD quality for audio recordings, this new revolution officially closed the gap between music composition and the gaming industry, allowing orchestral soundtracks, multi-layered arrangements, and enveloping soundscapes to become an essential part of the video game narrative.

Video game soundtracks today perfectly match the game's timing in innovative ways, changing and adapting to the player's speed and scenery.

The result is a powerful and immersive effect that often overshadows the poignancy of movie soundtracks, as the adaptability of video game music seems to connect with players on a deeper level with those listening to it.

A great example of dynamic synchronicity between music and gaming is Ape Out, which came out in 2019. This beat 'em up game features an all-drums jazz soundtrack that changes according to the gameplay, increasing and decreasing the intensity of the drum solos as the game progresses.

The dozens of possible sonic permutations result in an ever-changing soundscape that keeps the player engaged throughout the game.

Music and sound effects have been used in more innovative ways to augment the immersive effect that video games aim to achieve these days, and audio plays a crucial role in creating realistic virtual scenery.

In the same way as top-notch filmmakers and actors are entering the gaming industry, so are world-class music composers and producers who can create captivating and dynamic soundtracks for a virtual world.

THE FUTURE OF VIDEO GAME MUSIC

As we move into the virtual reality realm, the importance of soundscapes in video games becomes even more fundamental when bringing to life enveloping digital environments.

If you’ve ever used a VR headset, either to enter the metaverse or play video games, you must be aware of the importance of audio in the digital world.

Truly enveloping virtual realities require audio that sounds as authentic as it does in real life.

Concert-quality audio in video games opened up new opportunities for live events.

Ever since February 2019, when Marshmello played the first concert in Fortnite "in front of" 10 million people, many artists worldwide have embraced the new technological advancements to reach out to new audiences online.

While many video games helped players discover music in the past (think of GTA, Crazy Taxi or Tony Hawk's Pro Skater), now the technology allows composers to connect with players on a deeper level, either by performing live in the metaverse or by creating generative music that changes according to the gameplay.

As technology progresses, the boundaries between the digital and physical world will gradually thin out, allowing developers and musicians to transcend the current boundaries of gaming, connect with players and create an even more realistic experience.

For more articles on video games, read:

• Best Video Game Soundtracks
• The Healing Power of Video Game Scores
• For Composers, Video Game Music Is About Living In The Moment

Cover Credit: Image by Mark Cruz/Unsplash, Video by Uzunov Rostislav/Pexels

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Writer | Marco Sebastiano Alessi

Marco is an Italian music producer, composer and writer. He’s the founder of Naviar Records, a music community and record label exploring the connection between experimental electronic music and traditional Japanese poetry.