Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Developer Sandfall Interactive has been officially disqualified from the Indie Game Awards 2025 after confirming it used generative AI in its development. Six One Indie, the makers of the Indie Game Awards, declared this use of generative AI to be inappropriate. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 From receiving the two prizes won during the show on December 18, which will now go to the runner-up.
The use of generative AI in game development has become a hot topic recently with the winner of Game of the Year 2023. Baldur's Gate 3The developer, Larian Studios, is coming under fire for the use of AI in the development process of the recently announced game. divinity. The topic of AI in game development has divided the industry, as do some developers Kingdom Come: Redemption 2 Director Daniel Bhavra, coming out in support of Larian's use of AI in the conceptual stage of development. Meanwhile, other industry veterans like Bruce Staley, co-director The last of usThe game has taken a stand against the use of AI to create art, a sentiment shared by the team at Six One Indy that led to the disqualification. Campaign 33 From the Indie Game Awards.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is disqualified from the Indie Game Awards due to its use of AI
In a statement posted on the Indie Game Awards FAQ page Campaign 33Since the awards have been withdrawn, Six One Indie takes a strong stance against the use of Gen AI in game development, claiming that during the nomination process, Sandfall agreed not to use any Gen AI AI. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The day of the Indie Game Awards Showcase, December 18, Campaign 33 Producer Francois Meurice confirmed that the game had indeed used some generative AI during the development process, leading Six One Indy to withdraw the award the game won that night.
While Clair Obscur Initially awarded Debut Game and Game of the Year awards, these were withdrawn after it was confirmed that AI had been used in its development. The runner-up for these awards was awarded after this disqualification Sorry we are closed Taking the Debut Game Award, and Blue Prince Winning the Game of the Year award. The developers of these games, à la mod games, and Dogubomb were invited to record acceptance speeches that will likely be published in early 2026.
AI-generated assets in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Used as a placeholder and eventually dropped from the game. However, this use still violates the rules set by the Indie Game Awards regarding the use of AI in games, Campaign 33 Ineligible to win. Despite its use of AI-generated placeholder assets, Sandfall has said it is firmly against “creative” AI being used to replace human-made art in game development.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 still took home a record number of awards at The Game Awards 2025
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Game of the year
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Best Game Direction
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Excellent story
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Excellent art direction
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Excellent music and score (Lorian Testard)
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Best Performance (Jennifer English)
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The best role-playing game
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The best free game
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Best Debut Indie Game
Even with the controversy surrounding the use of generative AI, Clair Obscur The Game Awards 2025 went on to hold the record for the most awards won, taking home a total of 9 awards from 12 nominations, including the prestigious Game of the Year award. Many fans predicted that this game would be a tough contender to beat at TGA 2025, but setting a new record is a much more remarkable feat than expected. In light of the disclosure about Campaign 33The use of AI in development, the wider gaming industry is now at a crossroads with this technology and while it is still losing due to the same AI tools, it must learn how to overcome the large visible divide of winning games even when using it.
- issued
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April 24, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and gore, strong language, suggestive themes, violence
- developer(s)
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Sandfall Interactive
- publisher(s)
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Kepler Interactive
