Sandfall Interactive`s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 recently received high praise, having been named Game of the Year by both The Game Awards and The Indie Game Awards within the span of a single week. However, just two days after securing its second major win, The Indie Game Awards controversially rescinded both awards over concerns regarding the developer`s use of artificial intelligence.
The awards organization issued a statement on its official site (reported by Insider Gaming), emphasizing a rigorous policy: “The Indie Game Awards have a hard stance on the use of gen AI throughout the nomination process and during the ceremony itself.” When the title was initially submitted, Sandfall Interactive representatives reportedly confirmed that no generative AI (gen AI) had been used in the game`s development. The statement concluded: “In light of Sandfall Interactive confirming the use of gen AI on the day of the Indie Game Awards 2025 premiere, this does disqualify Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from its nomination.”
Following this decisive ruling, The Indie Game Awards named Blue Prince as its new Game of the Year. The award for Debut Game, which Expedition 33 had previously claimed, was reassigned to Sorry We`re Closed.
Developer Clarifications on AI Use
The controversy first gained traction following a feature published in El Pais in July 2025. During that interview, Expedition 33 producer François Meurisse mentioned the studio’s approach: “We use some AI, but not much. The key is that we were very clear about what we wanted to do.”
In response to the subsequent backlash and award revocation, Sandfall Interactive released a detailed statement clarifying their position. The studio claimed that when they communicated with El Pais—three months prior to the article’s publication—they indicated only using a limited quantity of pre-existing assets, specifically 3D assets obtained from the Unreal Engine Marketplace. They categorically stated that none of these specific marketplace assets were created using artificial intelligence.
Furthermore, Sandfall asserted that the sole AI-created elements found in the game were “temporary placeholder textures” that were mistakenly overlooked during Expedition 33’s quality assurance (QA) process. The studio insisted that once these unintended assets were identified, they were “removed within five days” and replaced by the intended, finalized textures.
Ongoing Popularity
Despite the official disqualification from the indie awards, the controversy appears to have done little to diminish Expedition 33`s overall popularity and success. The game received a massive boost on platforms like Steam and consoles, fueled in part by its previous recognition at The Game Awards. French President Emmanuel Macron publicly congratulated Sandfall for their initial success, and the release of new DLC immediately following The Game Awards ceremony likely added to the continued increase in player engagement.
All Party Members In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 And Their Abilities
