The Game Awards has announced Irish singer-songwriter Hozier as its first featured musical performer. Accompanied by musician and composer Bear McCreary, Hozier will sing Blood Upon The Snow from the God of War Ragnarok soundtrack at the ceremony.
Next week, The Game Awards will return, showcasing outstanding video games and exceptional talent within the gaming industry. The show also includes celebrity appearances and musical acts; past performers have included synth-pop artists CHVRCHES and Grimes. Last year, American pop rock band Imagine Dragons and rapper JID performed ‘Enemy’ from the League of Legends animated show Arcane.
Hozier and McCreary will take the stage at The Game Awards, which takes place at the Microsoft Theater on December 8th. The duo’s performance of Blood Upon the Snow, broadcast live across major platforms, will be the song’s world premiere. As the composer of God of War Ragnarok, McCreary may make an additional appearance on the ceremony’s stage. Alongside Xenoblade Chronicles 3 composer Yasunori Mitsuda and A Plague Tale: Requiem composer Olivier Deriviere, McCreary has received a nomination for Best Score and Music at The Game Awards.
In a behind-the-scenes video shared on YouTube by PlayStation, Hozier and McCreary discuss their collaboration on Blood Upon the Snow and their recording process. The cinematic track, featuring the motif of a bear and a wolf, was inspired by God of War’s thematic elements and storytelling. “This song is something of a journey, and I think that’s something I always got from God of War,” Hozier said. “Here’s this constant moving forward in the act of moving through the world, and this journey of two people.”
Released earlier this month, God of War Ragnarok has earned critical acclaim and stellar reviews for its exciting combat and dynamic narrative. Apart from Best Score and Music, the ninth installment in the God of War franchise has been nominated for Game of the Year, which recognizes the title that “delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields”. God of War Ragnarok is also a strong contender for Players’ Voice, which is awarded by the gaming community worldwide. At the time of publication, God of War Ragnarok had received 8% of overall votes in Round 1 of Players’ Voice, only second to Elden Ring with 9% of votes.