Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stripped of Indie Awards over generative AI use

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the popular RPG from French developer Sandfall Interactive, has been stripped off its Indie Game Awards wins.

The Indie Game Awards were held on December 18, where Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 initially emerged as a major winner and claimed both Game of the Year and Debut Game. Besides the top wins, the game also won Best Indie Game, Best Debut Indie Game, Best Art Direction, Best Score, Best RPG, Best Narrative, Best Game Direction, and Best Performance for Jennifer English. However, that outcome has since been overturned.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's GOTY Win at Indie Game Awards retracted over Gen AI use

The awards’ organisers, Six One Indie, announced that the game and its developer, Sandfall Interactive, will be stripped of the honours following revelations that generative AI was used in the project. According to the statement, the issue came to light only after voting had concluded and the ceremony had already been recorded.

“The Indie Game Awards have a hard stance on the use of gen AI throughout the nomination process and during the ceremony itself,” the statement reads. “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.

“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 Clair Obscur’s disqualification, the honours will be reassigned to the runners-up. Sorry We’re Closed will now receive the Debut Game award, while Blue Prince has been named Game of the Year.

According to users on Reddit, generative AI was reportedly used to produce newspaper textures in Expedition 33, assets that are said to have since been removed from the game.

"Unbelievably funny how this only came to light now. it was publicly reported months ago but I guess people just didn't want it to be true?" a user wrote on Reddit.

Another Redditor shared, "Studios are going to start taking a don’t ask don’t tell stance on AI usage to maintain plausible deniability, and then hang individual employees out to dry if it’s ever detected."

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