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The game audio conference, High Score, has named its first three speakers for the event’s 10th edition, with the composers behind Hollow Knight and Helldivers 2 headlining the initial lineup alongside a PlayStation audio figure.
High Score 2026 takes place at ACMI in Melbourne on 3-4 October as part of Melbourne International Games Week. The conference is presented by the Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO), Creative Victoria and venue partner ACMI, with support from APRA AMCOS and Music Australia.
Australian composer and sound designer, Christopher Larkin, BAFTA-nominated for his work on Hollow Knight and its sequel Hollow Knight: Silksong, is the first confirmed speaker. Larkin’s credits also include Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, and his session will focus on immersive worldbuilding through music and sound, an approach central to how he creates atmosphere and emotional depth in games.
Helldivers 2 and Mortal Kombat composer, Wilbert Roget II, will join the program with a session exploring what he calls “musical sound design”, the practice of transforming everyday recordings into elements of a game score. In a semi-moderated conversation with audio and video examples, Roget will unpack his self-described approach as a “musical trash collector”, demonstrating how found sounds, field recordings and unexpected source material can be reshaped into distinctive musical textures.
Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Duncan Smith rounds out the initial trio, bringing a PlayStation perspective to the lineup.
New curator takes the reins
The 10th edition also marks the first High Score program curated by composer, session musician, lecturer and broadcaster, Meena Shamaly.
Shamaly hosts ABC Classic’s Game Show, a weekly program exploring new video game music and composition. He has presented live game music performances including Orchestra Victoria’s Indie Symphony, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s Press Play and The Music of Video Games with Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
As a composer, his credits include Innchanted (DragonBear Studios) and Every Hue of You (Cactus Jam Games). The latter earned Shamaly and co-composer, Natalie Jeffreys, a nomination for Best Music for a Video Game or Other Interactive Media at the 2024 APRA AMCOS Screen Music Awards.
“In High Score, I have always found inspiration, wisdom, hope and community. It is surreal to lead the charge in 2026, and I hope to honour and elevate for others what this event has always meant to me,” Shamaly remarked.
“We navigate industries that are as thrilling as they are challenging, as we find our footing between established legacy and a novel future. Our first three speakers alone are a treasure trove of talent and experience, with unique insights into the creative process, intricate pathways into technical mastery and new ways of reimagining business and collaboration.”
He added that there was plenty more to reveal about the program, promising attendees would find what they were searching for “and maybe a few surprises you weren’t expecting”.
A decade of game audio in Melbourne
High Score has run since 2017 as a dedicated meeting point for people working in music and sound for games across the Asia-Pacific region, drawing industry figures and emerging practitioners alike.
The conference sits within Melbourne International Games Week, and its 10th edition is being positioned as a reflection of how game audio has grown as a discipline over the past decade.
VMDO General Manager, Kirsty Rivers, pointed to the deepening relationship between the games and music industries.
“We know that the links between the game and music industries are strong and growing and High Score is the perfect place to explore opportunities to make music audio central to the game experience,” Rivers noted.
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Head of Melbourne International Games Week at ACMI, Luke Lancaster, described High Score as an important part of the broader Games Week program.
“Returning for its 10th year, we’re proud to call High Score one of the more important events to be a part of Melbourne International Games Week,” Lancaster commented.
“The 2026 lineup reflects both the calibre and international scope of the festival as a whole, and as we look to support the games industry and explore how games are experienced, High Score and its focus on games audio is a crucial, unique part of that ambition.”
Returning MC
Australian broadcaster, Angharad “Rad” Yeo, returns as MC for the 2026 edition. Yeo has more than a decade of experience across ABC television and radio, podcasts, digital media and live events, covering technology, science, video games, arts and culture.
Further speakers and the full program will be announced in September.
Tickets and details are available at vmdo.com.au/events/high-score-2026.
Last Updated on August 21, 2026 by Nick Ross
