Jazz Orchestra’s Cover of Persona 5 Battle Theme Earns Grammy Nomination

The battle theme from Persona 5, known as “Last Surprise,” has snagged a Grammy nomination, thanks to a cover by the jazz ensemble The 8-Bit Big Band.

Charlie Rosen, who put together the cover with Jake Silverman, shared the exciting news on X/Twitter. “Just got my fourth consecutive Grammy nomination,” he announced. “I’m incredibly thrilled to be recognized alongside [Silverman] for our joint arrangement of ‘Last Surprise’ from Persona 5 with The 8-Bit Big Band. Cheers to video game music!”

“Last Surprise” is vying for the title of Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals. It’s up against some tough competition, including John Legend’s “Always Come Back” and Willow’s “Big Feelings.” The results will be revealed on February 2.

For those who have dived into Persona 5, “Last Surprise” will ring a bell—it’s the main tune you battle to over this sprawling 100-plus hour RPG. Its catchy, jazzy vibe is unforgettable, and fans of the series might also recognize it from Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight and Persona 5 Strikers.

Persona 5 made its debut in 2016 and was met with rave reviews, with its enhanced version being labeled a masterpiece by IGN. Despite the success, Atlus, the developer, has yet to roll out a new installment in the series. However, the creative minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5 did recently launch Metaphor: Refantazio, an RPG that brings a bit of the Persona magic into a fantasy setting.

There’s no official word on when we might see the next mainline Persona adventure, but there’s a cryptic hint suggesting a green theme could feature prominently in what’s next.

Ryan Dinsdale writes for IGN as a freelance reporter. He’s always happy to chat about The Witcher.