Xbox and 88 Rising: Music, Games, and Shared Experiences

Gaming and music have been synonymous since the beginning. When combined, audio and visual storytelling can lead to memorable and emotional experiences. From start screen nostalgia to sweaty palmed boss battle crescendos and watery eyed goodbyes, there’s a never-ending list of moments that continue to resonate with us long after the credits roll. 

These are often the moments that bring us closer together. Whether you’re empathizing with upvotes in r/eldenring or singing Halo acapella in a restroom with 25 of your closest friends, there’s joy in both shared experiences and in the discovery of new ones.

In celebration of Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month this May, we wanted more information and to foster a closer connection with APIHM by asking our friends from music and gaming for their favourite songs. Below, you’ll hear from artists signed to 88rising, as well as content creators we’ve featured in our Xbox Plays sessions earlier this month. There’s also a Spotify mixtape we put together that we think will be your new favorite playlist. We hope you enjoy what’s been shared as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

How did you get hooked on gaming?
I’ve always been really into games, starting from those dress up and cooking Flash games on random websites, it’s always been my favorite pastime. This kept me active, awake, and mentally stimulated. My creativity is my greatest asset! I love building homes, farms, and bases. The most memorable moment of gaming would be the time a group of high school classmates and I built a base. Minecraftserver over school holidays, and would continue to work every day on this large village that included a town hall as well as other areas. You even got some lore! It was so fun to hang out with my friends online without having to actually leave my room, and when we came back to school we had a bunch of inside jokes!

Which are your favourite games?
My favorite game for playing my style of play is I believe it’s the greatest. Minecraft. You can play it alone, or with friends. It is also very exciting that the site is updated each year. Every year, I find myself returning to it. It is also something I enjoy. Sims, I used to always only build houses but recently I’ve started actually playing with the characters and I’m on my 5th generation! Also, I would like to emphasize Apex Legends, Minecraft Dungeons, Stardew ValleyAnd PUBG!

Do you have a favorite game song or soundtrack?
The MinecraftHome screen sounds are my favorite. All of them are also my favorite. Stardew Valley‘s in-game music. Sometimes I use it as my work music. My favorite is probably “Dance of the Moonlight Jellies.” It is such a perfect tune to accompany the visuals of the scene and you can hear the sound of waves and it is just so serene. These songs inspired me greatly to create music for games.

How did you get hooked on gaming?
I fell in love gaming because it was an easy way to build relationships with my siblings. To me, family is extremely important. It is a joy to get together with our children on days when we can play video games.

Which are your favourite games?
My love is Minecraft, Black Ops – Call of Duty(2), (3) and (4) Resident Evil, Guitar HeroAnd the Batman ArkhamVideo game series

Do you have a favorite game song or soundtrack?
Batman Arkham City’s “Mercenary” by Panic! At The Disco and of course, my song “Entertain Me” which was actually included in the launch trailer of Valorant’s playable character Agent Neon. The combination of my gaming world and music was an interesting adventure.

How did you get hooked on gaming?
My first obsessions were with the games Diablo IIAnd StarCraft — my parents ended up breaking the CDs because I was playing so much. Also, I love to play. GoldeneyeAnd Super Smash Bros. with my friends on N64. My favorite gaming moment is probably the Taken King raid victory in Destiny 1Playing hard mode together with some friends on PS4. That was a long time, we spent 8 hours and it felt so satisfying to finally get rid of the game.

Which are your favourite games?
Right now, it’s Apex LegendsAnd Legends of Runeterra. Diablo II, StarCraftOG Super Smash BrosAs a youngster. Oh, and of course! Pokémon (Red gang gang).

Do you have a favorite game song or soundtrack?
When I hear it, Legend of Zelda theme, I’m 8 years old again. My favorite thing about my childhood was the “I loved…” Ocarinas of Time – not only was the music incredible, I loved how they actually incorporated music into the gameplay, and really nailed how the music you learn in game gives you power.

How did you get hooked on gaming?
I really got invested into online gaming at a lonely point in my life, so I definitely really appreciate and love the social aspect of it – being able to connect with friends from all over the country, and the world through gaming! My most memorable moment in gaming was when I reached Masters my first time. Apex Legends.

Which are your favourite games?
Anything Pokémon really, Apex LegendsAnd Final Fantasy XIV.

Do you have a favorite game song or soundtrack?
Littleroot Town is the theme Pokémon Emerald really takes me back to my childhood, when I’d just be splayed on my bed happily starting my Hoenn adventure on my Nintendo DS. That track always makes me feel comfortable and at home.

How did you get hooked on gaming?
Zelda: Ocarina of TimeMy family and I used to play this game together. They would sometimes let us watch the boss fight or finish puzzles with them. Amazing game! It had amazing action combat, fascinating characters and stunning music.

Which are your favourite games?
Coincidentally, Zelda: Majora’s MaskThis is without a doubt one of the most enjoyable games I have ever played. This was my first experience with a game that featured a dark and eerie setting. Although it may sound strange, it was actually quite refreshing to experience a similar game. This game really sparked my interest in similar games, such as Bloodborne.

Do you have a favorite game song or soundtrack?
From the OST Tunic, Dustforce, Celeste, Persona 5, Zelda: Majora’s MaskAnd BloodborneAll of these amazing videos game music are my absolute favorite.

How did you get hooked on gaming?
Gaming has always been a part of my life since I was a kid – it just feels so natural. As a child, I used to play video games. TetrisUsing the Game Boy original, and then moving to Kirby Super StarAnd Super Mario World On the SNES. Super Mario 64The N64 is available at Final Fantasy VIII was a PlayStation 2 owner when my first 3D game experience began. After I discovered the richest worlds of RPGs, my passion for them and all things related to them grew. Final Fantasy VIIIBy X-2Also, Diablo IIOn PC. Fast forward to now, where I’ve completed dozens and dozens of games across various platforms, largely thanks to my 7+ year streaming career on Twitch. My first solo victory was one of the most memorable moments in gaming. Dark SoulsPlaythrough of 295 deaths to be moved to tears Ori and The Blind ForestEnjoy a non-VATS stealthy sniper build. Fallout 4.

Which are your favourite games?
There are many of my favorite games, but it’s hard to choose just one! But the ones that always come to mind when I’m asked include: Wild Hunt: The Witcher 3, Final Fantasy VII (and Final Fantasy VII Remake), Ori and The Blind Forest, Bloodborne, Red Dead Redemption 2, Hollow Knight, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Legend of Zelda – Breath of the Wild, Immortals Fenyx RisingAnd Yakuza 0..

Do you have a favorite game song or soundtrack?
The soundtrack Final Fantasy VII/RemakeFor me, it is most memorable. This year I was fortunate enough to attend the Final Fantasy VII Remake Orchestra World Tour. It was incredible to be able experience the classic soundtrack of a videogame through the live orchestra. Some other notable soundtracks are those by Dark Souls III, Bloodborne, Ori and The Blind ForestAnd Wild Hunt: The Witcher 3. I’ve found that the music from a game can stick with you for years and really adds to the whole of an enriching gaming experience.”

How did you get hooked on gaming?
Gamers have many great reasons to love it. But it ultimately boils down to two things, the friends I’ve made and the ability to jump into another world. My brother bought me my first console and we shared it. We weren’t allowed to own one. We were not allowed to own one. So we used each other’s flashlights at night while ours was under our covers.

Which are your favourite games?
Digimon World, Ragnarok Online, Maplestory, Megaman X, Legends, Battle Network, Final Fantasy VII & VIII, PoyPoy, League of Legends, Pokémon Leaf GreenAnd Monster Rancher.

Do you have a favorite game song or soundtrack?
Digimon World, Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9 and 10, Ragnarok Online, Kingdom Hearts, “Warriors” (ft. Imagine Dragons My wife and I walked down the aisle together. Final Fantasy VIII‘s “Eyes on Me” and now I hum it to my son for bedtime.

How did you get hooked on gaming?
Since I was a child, video games have fascinated me. I started games such as Street Fighter IIAnd Turtles in Time: TMNTSNES. I’ve had so many memories of gaming, and a lot of them have been saved on Twitch – but I remember very distinctly the first few days of Gears of War 3 launch. Even though we went to different universities, our friends and me all downloaded the game around midnight. We’d all skip our classes and chill over Xbox Live and earned every achievement of that game.

Which are your favourite games?
Gears of WarThis is my favourite franchise. Some honorable mentions: the Just Dance franchise – because it’s the last standing rhythm-based game on consoles, and For Honor It is one of the best combat games around.

Do you have a favorite game song or game soundtrack?
I think the easy cop-out answer here would be to give praise to any Nintendo franchise or any of the Final Fantasy soundtracks, so I’m going to go with a curveball and say Saints Row 3. It had specially selected tracks that were used for certain moments in the game. This made it seem cinematic. One moment you’re jammin’ to Kanye West jumping out of helicopters, and the next you’re fighting luchadores while listening to songs from “The Karate Kid.” When you’re not doing those things, you’re cruisin’ down the street with the homies listening to Sublime while singing lyrics to a song you didn’t know you knew the lyrics to. Honorable mention: Need for speed underground Let’s be real – everyone is following that playlist on Spotify. If you aren’t, I bet you’re about to go do it right now after reading this.”

Play. Connect. Impact: Learn more about all that Xbox and Microsoft are doing in celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month at our Xbox Community Hub and Microsoft’s AAPIHM Community Hub.

Around 88 rising: 88rising is the pioneering global music & media company representing the best of Asian talent. 88rising was the first company to launch an Asian-centric music festival in the United States (Head in the Clouds Music & Arts Festival – now in its fourth year), the first to have an Asian artist top the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts and Spotify’s Weekly Global Albums chart, and the first to launch an all-Asian radio channel reaching all of North America. In 2021, 88rising executive produced and curated the soundtrack to “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” – Marvel Studios’ first Asian-American superhero. NetEase was one of China’s biggest music streaming sites and awarded them Label of Year in 2019. With over 160 million followers across global social media platforms and over 40 billion total streams and views, 88rising’s global influence is undeniable.