Passion as a Lifeline: Reflections from a Video Game Composer

This one's for the video game fans, or perhaps more broadly, anyone who's ever been captivated by something so deeply it shaped the course of their life.

Konbini did one of their store tour videos, this time featuring Olivier Derivière, a French composer known for his work in the video game industry. You might not recognise his name right away, but if you've played Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (2014) or A Plague Tale: Innocence (2019), you've heard his work. In the video, Derivière walks through a game store, pulling out titles from the shelves and reminiscing about the projects he's worked on over the past 20 years. The video is in French (subtitled), but honestly, you don't need to understand every word to feel the warmth of his presence.

What strikes you most about Derivière isn't just the impressive résumé, which includes BAFTA nominations, a Pégase d'honneur, collaborations with legendary composers, over two decades in the field – it's the genuine passion he exudes.

There's something disarming about his humility. While he speaks as an industry veteran, he does so as someone who still carries the spark of a teenage fan, wide-eyed and enchanted by the magic of games. It reminded me of my own childhood, getting lost in colourful pixelated worlds, where the real world melted away and only possibility remained.

The video game industry is not in an easy place right now. While games have become ubiquitous, the people who make them are often overworked and underpaid. It's a reality that's rightly getting more attention. And yet, amidst the challenges, stories like Derivière's remind us that this field, like many creative industries, can still be a space where passion finds form. Where that inner fire we carry can be shaped into something that resonates with others.

A few moments from the video stayed with me in particular:

From the 27:29 mark, Derivière shares how Streets of Rage 4 was one of his most intimidating projects. Even though it was an indie reboot of a long dead franchise, it meant something personal. Streets of Rage 2 (1992) had been a formative game for him as a child. Taking on the soundtrack decades later felt like stepping into sacred ground. Rather than backing away, he invited Yuzo Koshiro, the composer of the original, to collaborate on some of the tracks. I found that incredibly moving. That humility. That reverence for his roots and the creations of his professional forebears.

I hadn't touched a video game since I was 20, but like many of us, I dipped back in during the pandemic. The only title that held my attention? Streets of Rage 4. It's a glorious creation—tight mechanics, stunning visuals, thoughtful design—and the music is a triumph. It honours the past while opening space for something new. Like Derivière, I too was a massive fan of the series in the 1990s.

At 34:15, Derivière stumbles upon a copy of Alone in the Dark (2008), one of his early projects. The game was failure with the critics, but he still speaks of it the with love of a proud parent. The team poured everything into it, and for him, that was enough. Success, he reminds us, doesn't always come in the form of awards or acclaim. Sometimes it's about showing up, giving everything, and walking away knowing you cared.

Watching Derivière speak, I found myself reflecting on how passion carries us. How it can be both anchor and compass. How it helps us persist, even when the world doesn't reward us in the ways we expected. His story is a quiet celebration of that idea—that doing what we love doesn't always lead to fame, but it can lead to meaning.

Reflective Questions

If you're reading this and thinking about your own path, here are some questions to sit with:

• What childhood passion or interest still lives in you today?

• When was the last time you felt truly lit up by something you were doing?

• Have there been moments when you stepped into a role or project that felt too big—but did it anyway?

• How do you define success? Has that definition changed over time?

• Are there parts of your work or life that you hold dear, even if they didn't go "according to plan"?

• What role does humility play in your creative or professional life?

Passion doesn't always roar. Sometimes it's quiet, steady, and deeply personal. But when you really see it in someone else it reminds you of the best parts of yourself.