The D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. This award is "presented to the individual or team whose work represents the highest level of achievement in creating a unified audio experience. The quality of the individual sound effects, voice over, music, technology, and other audio elements will be considered in addition to the overall audio mix of the title". Creative/technical Academy members with expertise as a game designer, producer, audio designer, or musician are qualified to vote for this award.
The award's most recent winner is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, developed by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
History
The award was initially presented as the Outstanding Achievement in Sound and Music for "the integration and use of sound and/or original music in an interactive title". The first winner was PaRappa the Rapper, which was developed by NanaOn-Sha and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. Sound and Music was separated into their own categories for Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition and Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design during the 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. The award was renamed to its current title at the 23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. Outstanding Achievement in Sound and Music (1998–1999) Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design (2000–2019) Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design (2020–present)
Even after the categories for sound and music were split in 2000, several games had won both categories in the same year, which included: Medal of Honor: Underground Medal of Honor: Frontline God of War (2005) BioShock Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Journey Destiny God of War (2018) Ghost of Tsushima Returnal God of War Ragnarök Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Helldivers 2
Winners and nominees 1990s + Table keyIndicates the winner YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)1997/1998 (1st) PaRappa the RapperNanaOn-ShaSony Computer EntertainmentFalloutInterplay ProductionsInterplay ProductionsInterstate '76ActivisionActivisionOddworld: Abe's OddyseeOddworld InhabitantsGT InteractiveOutlawsLucasArtsLucasArtsStar Trek: Starfleet AcademyInterplay ProductionsInterplay Productions1998/1999 (2nd) Road Rash 3DElectronic ArtsElectronic ArtsGrim FandangoLucasArtsLucasArtsHeart of DarknessAmazing StudioInterplay ProductionsWild 9Shiny Entertainment1999/2000 (3rd) Medal of HonorDreamWorks InteractiveElectronic ArtsNFL 2KVisual ConceptsSegaThief: The Dark ProjectLooking Glass StudiosEidos Interactive
2000s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2000 (4th) Medal of Honor: UndergroundDreamWorks InteractiveElectronic ArtsDeus ExIon StormEidos InteractiveJet Grind RadioSmilebitSegaThe Longest JourneyFuncomIQ Media, Empire Interactive, Tri Synergy2001 (5th) Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyKonamiKonamiFrequencyHarmonixSony Computer EntertainmentIcoJapan StudioTom Clancy's Ghost ReconRed Storm EntertainmentUbisoft2002 (6th) Medal of Honor: FrontlineEA Los AngelesElectronic ArtsEternal Darkness: Sanity's RequiemSilicon KnightsNintendoGrand Theft Auto: Vice CityRockstar NorthRockstar GamesMetroid PrimeRetro StudiosNintendoNo One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s WayMonolith ProductionsSierra EntertainmentThe Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersStormfront StudiosElectronic ArtsTom Clancy's Splinter CellUbisoft MontrealUbisoft2003 (7th) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingEA Redwood ShoresElectronic ArtsAmplitudeHarmonixSony Computer EntertainmentBeyond Good & EvilUbisoft MontpellierUbisoftCall of DutyInfinity WardActivisionTom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven ShieldRed Storm EntertainmentUbisoft2004 (8th) Halo 2BungieMicrosoft Game StudiosDoom 3id SoftwareActivisionRatchet & Clank: Up Your ArsenalInsomniac GamesSony Computer EntertainmentRome: Total WarCreative AssemblyActivisionSly 2: Band of ThievesSucker Punch ProductionsSony Computer Entertainment2005 (9th) God of WarSanta Monica StudioSony Computer EntertainmentCondemned: Criminal OriginsMonolith ProductionsSegaF.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon)Vivendi Universal Games, Sierra EntertainmentKing KongUbisoft MontpellierUbisoftTom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos TheoryUbisoft Montreal2006 (10th) Call of Duty 3TreyarchActivisionCompany of HeroesRelic EntertainmentTHQThe Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionBethesda Game Studios2K GamesTom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced WarfighterUbisoft Paris, Red Storm EntertainmentUbisoftTom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double AgentUbisoft Shanghai2007 (11th) BioShock2K Boston, 2K Australia2K GamesCall of Duty 4: Modern WarfareInfinity WardActivisionNeed for Speed: ProStreetEA Black BoxElectronic ArtsSkateTom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2Ubisoft Paris, Red Storm EntertainmentUbisoft2008 (12th) Dead SpaceEA Redwood ShoresElectronic ArtsGears of War 2Epic GamesMicrosoft Game StudiosLittleBigPlanetMedia MoleculeSony Computer EntertainmentPrince of PersiaUbisoft MontrealUbisoftWipeout HDStudio LiverpoolSony Computer Entertainment2009 (13th) Uncharted 2: Among ThievesNaughty DogSony Computer EntertainmentAssassin's Creed IIUbisoft MontrealUbisoftCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Infinity WardActivisionFlowerThatgamecompanySony Computer EntertainmentSkate 2EA Black BoxElectronic Arts
2010s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2010 (14th) LimboPlaydeadPlaydeadAssassin's Creed: BrotherhoodUbisoft MontrealUbisoftBattlefield: Bad Company 2DICEElectronic ArtsMedal of HonorDanger Close Games, DICERed Dead RedemptionRockstar San DiegoRockstar Games2011 (15th) Battlefield 3DICEElectronic ArtsCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer GamesActivisionL.A. NoireTeam BondiRockstar GamesNeed for Speed: The RunEA Black BoxElectronic ArtsUncharted 3: Drake's DeceptionNaughty DogSony Computer Entertainment2012 (16th) JourneyThatgamecompanySony Computer EntertainmentAssassin's Creed IIIUbisoft MontrealUbisoftDiablo IIIBlizzard EntertainmentBlizzard EntertainmentMedal of Honor: WarfighterDanger Close GamesElectronic ArtsSyndicateStarbreeze Studios2013 (17th) The Last of UsNaughty DogSony Computer EntertainmentBattlefield 4DICEElectronic ArtsBioShock InfiniteIrrational Games2K GamesGod of War: AscensionSanta Monica StudioSony Computer EntertainmentGrand Theft Auto VRockstar NorthRockstar Games2014 (18th) DestinyBungieActivisionAssassin's Creed UnityUbisoft MontrealUbisoftCall of Duty: Advanced WarfareSledgehammer GamesActivisionFar Cry 4Ubisoft MontrealUbisoftValiant Hearts: The Great WarUbisoft Montpellier2015 (19th) Star Wars BattlefrontDICEElectronic ArtsDestiny: The Taken KingBungieActivisionOri and the Blind ForestMoon StudiosMicrosoft StudiosRise of the Tomb RaiderCrystal DynamicsSquare Enix EuropeThe Order: 1886Ready at DawnSony Computer Entertainment2016 (20th) Battlefield 1DICEElectronic ArtsInsidePlaydeadPlaydeadQuantum BreakRemedy EntertainmentMicrosoft StudiosThe Last GuardianJapan Studio, GenDesignSony Interactive EntertainmentUncharted 4: A Thief's EndNaughty Dog2017 (21st) Super Mario OdysseyNintendo EPDNintendoDestiny 2BungieActivisionInjustice 2NetherRealm StudiosWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentStar Wars Battlefront IIDICEElectronic ArtsUncharted: The Lost LegacyNaughty DogSony Interactive Entertainment2018 (22nd) God of WarSanta Monica StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentBattlefield VDICEElectronic ArtsDetroit: Become HumanQuantic DreamSony Interactive EntertainmentMarvel's Spider-ManInsomniac GamesMossPolyarcPolyarc2019 (23rd) Death StrandingKojima ProductionsSony Interactive EntertainmentCall of Duty: Modern WarfareInfinity WardActivisionMortal Kombat 11NetherRealm StudiosWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentResident Evil 2CapcomCapcomSayonara Wild HeartsSimogoAnnapurna Interactive
2020s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2020 (24th) Ghost of TsushimaSucker Punch ProductionsSony Interactive EntertainmentDreamsMedia MoleculeSony Interactive EntertainmentThe Last of Us Part IINaughty DogOri and the Will of the WispsMoon StudiosXbox Game StudiosSackboy: A Big AdventureSumo DigitalSony Interactive Entertainment2021 (25th) ReturnalHousemarqueSony Interactive EntertainmentForza Horizon 5Playground GamesXbox Game StudiosHalo Infinite343 IndustriesIt Takes TwoHazelight StudiosElectronic ArtsRatchet & Clank: Rift ApartInsomniac GamesSony Interactive Entertainment2022 (26th) God of War RagnarökSanta Monica StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentA Plague Tale: RequiemAsobo StudioFocus EntertainmentCall of Duty: Modern Warfare IIInfinity WardActivisionGotham KnightsWB Games MontréalWarner Bros. GamesSomervilleJumpshipJumpship2023 (27th) Marvel's Spider-Man 2Insomniac GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentAlan Wake 2Remedy EntertainmentEpic GamesCocoonGeometric InteractiveAnnapurna InteractiveHi-Fi RushTango GameworksBethesda SoftworksStar Wars Jedi: SurvivorRespawn EntertainmentElectronic Arts2024 (28th) Helldivers 2Arrowhead Game StudiosSony Interactive EntertainmentFrostpunk 211 Bit Studios11 Bit StudiosMonument Valley 3 ustwo Netflix GamesSenua's Saga: Hellblade IINinja TheoryXbox Game StudiosStill Wakes the DeepThe Chinese RoomSecret Mode2025 (29th) Death Stranding 2: On the BeachKojima ProductionsSony Interactive EntertainmentARC Raiders Embark Studios Embark StudiosGhost of Yōtei Sucker Punch Productions Sony Interactive EntertainmentLumines Arise Enhance Games MonstarsSplit Fiction Hazelight Studios Electronic Arts
Multiple nominations and wins Developers and publishers Sony has published the most nominees, as well as the most winners in this category. Sony has the longest publisher-winning streak in this category, having won the award for eight consecutive years (2019 to 2026). Sony also has the record for publishing the most nominees in a single year, with four nods at the 24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.
Electronic Arts developer DICE and Ubisoft Montreal have developed the most nominees, with DICE and Sony's Santa Monica Studio having developed the most winners in the category. DICE and DreamWorks Interactive are the only developers with back-to-back wins for the award. Ubisoft has published the most nominees without having a single winner, while Ubisoft Montreal has developed the most nominees without a winner as well. Ubisoft Montreal is also one of the few studios that have developed more than one nominee for a single year; the other studios are Interplay Productions, Monolith Productions, and EA Black Box.
+ Developer Nominations WinsDICE 8 3Santa Monica Studio 4 3Naughty Dog 6 2DreamWorks Interactive/EA Los Angeles/Danger Close Games 5 2Bungie 4 2EA Redwood Shores 2 2Kojima Productions 2 2Insomniac Games 4 1Sucker Punch Productions 3 12K Boston/Irrational Games 2 1Playdead 2 1Thatgamecompany 2 1Ubisoft Montreal 8 0Infinity Ward 6 0EA Black Box 4 0Red Storm Entertainment 4 0Monolith Productions 3 0Ubisoft Montpellier 3 0Hazelight Studios 2 0Interplay Productions 2 0Harmonix 2 0Japan Studio 2 0LucasArts 2 0Media Molecule 2 0Moon Studios 2 0NetherRealm Studios 2 0Remedy Entertainment 2 0Rockstar North 2 0Sledgehammer Games 2 0Ubisoft Paris 2 0
+ Publishers Publisher Nominations WinsSony Computer/Interactive Entertainment 34 13Electronic Arts 24 9Activision 14 2Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios 8 12K Games 3 1Nintendo 3 1Playdead 2 1Ubisoft 15 0Interplay Productions 4 0Eidos Interactive/Square Enix Europe 3 0Rockstar Games 3 0Sega 3 0Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment/Warner Bros. Games 3 0Annapurna Interactive 2 0LucasArts 2 0
Franchises The most nominated franchise has been Call of Duty, while God of War and Medal of Honor have been the most award-winning franchises. Battlefield and Death Stranding are the only other franchises to have won more than once. The Tom Clancy franchise has the most nominations without winning a single award, and is the only franchise with more than one nominee in one year.