Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Stripped of Awards Over AI Controversy

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Award Revocation

In an unexpected turn of events, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an RPG developed by Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive, has lost its prestigious awards from the Indie Game Awards 2025. The game had previously garnered attention for winning both Game of the Year and Debut Game.

Controversy Over AI Utilization

The awards were stripped due to violations concerning the use of generative AI in the game's development. Initially, the game was submitted under the premise that no AI was utilized, a claim that the Indie Game Awards later disputed after learning about AI-generated assets used during production.

The issue surfaced when players began noticing what appeared to be AI-generated textures shortly after the game's launch. Following this, Sandfall issued a patch to remove these textures, although the awards committee maintained its stance on the violations.

Statement from the Indie Game Awards

In a statement, the awards organization asserted their commitment to a strict policy against generative AI use in nominations, emphasizing:

“When submitted for consideration, a representative of Sandfall Interactive agreed that no gen AI was used in the development of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This disqualifies the game due to confirmed AI art during its development.”

Reassigned Honors

With the revocation of the awards, Blue Prince was awarded Game of the Year, and Sorry We’re Closed received the title of Debut Game. Despite the setback, community discussions about AI's role in game development are likely to intensify, given the growing prevalence of AI technologies in creative processes.

Sandfall Interactive's Response

Sandfall Interactive has expressed a dedication to staying a small, focused team, reinforcing their philosophy against scaling up. The lead developer commented, “We love making games more than we love managing.” Despite the awards controversy, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continues to be recognized for its artistic excellence and innovative gameplay.

As the discourse surrounding AI in the gaming industry evolves, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 remains a significant part of that conversation.

Source: GeekTyrant