Clair Obscur Expedition 33: Historic Game Awards Victory Overshadowed by AI Controversy

Record-Breaking Success at The Game Awards 2025

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 made history at The Game Awards 2025, winning nine awards from thirteen nominations—the highest number of wins for a single title in the event’s history, surpassing the record previously held by The Last of Us Part II in 2020. The French RPG from Sandfall Interactive took home Game of the Year, Best Narrative, Best Game Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, Best Performance (Jennifer English), and Best RPG.

The unprecedented sweep solidified the debut title’s place in gaming history. Clair Obscur’s victories fit with two themes of the night: the rise of independent studios and the internationalization of the awards themselves. The game’s success resonated beyond the gaming industry, with French President Emmanuel Macron congratulating Sandfall on its multiple wins, calling it “A historic first for a French title! […] Great pride for Montpellier and for France.”

AI Controversy Leads to Disqualification

Despite the triumph at The Game Awards, controversy emerged shortly after when on December 18, Expedition 33 producer François Meurisse confirmed that the game had, in fact, used some generative AI during the development process. This admission had immediate consequences at another awards ceremony.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been disqualified from the Indie Game Awards, and the two awards it received from the event have been revoked in light of developer Sandfall Interactive’s use of generative AI. When it was submitted for consideration, representatives of Sandfall Interactive agreed that no gen AI was used in the development of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, but in light of Sandfall Interactive confirming the use of gen AI on the day of the Indie Game Awards 2025 premiere, this disqualified the game from its nomination.

With Clair Obscur disqualified from the event, Debut Game has now gone to Sorry We’re Closed, while Game of the Year goes to Blue Prince. The AI-generated assets in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 were used as placeholders and were eventually patched out of the game.

Industry Implications and Divided Reactions

The controversy has highlighted the gaming industry’s complex relationship with artificial intelligence. Many communities online are extremely upset by the news, especially after the game won nine awards at The Game Awards 2025, including Game of the Year. However, reactions remain divided.

If Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can use generative AI, tell its players it’s against the use of said technology, and win Game of the Year almost unanimously, this speaks volumes about the future of AI in the industry—as long as the game is good, most players don’t care if a game uses AI.

The situation raises important questions about transparency in game development and what constitutes acceptable AI usage. It’s unclear whether the Indie Game Awards’ decision will affect Clair Obscur’s nine Game Awards wins, but it seems unlikely. The record-breaking success remains intact, though the controversy continues to spark debate about AI ethics in creative industries and the importance of disclosure during award consideration processes.