Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Stripped Of A Game Of The Year Award Because Of AI

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Stripped of a Game of the Year Award Because of AI

Last updated: 2025/12/22 at 5:56 PM

News Room Published 22 December 2025

Turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been a runaway success in 2025 taking the top title at The Game Awards, The Golden Joysticks, and cementing itself in many best game of the year lists.

One of its most recent award wins has been retroactively removed, and it’s due to the studio’s use of artificial intelligence tools.

The Indie Game Awards (IGA) gave Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 both its Debut Game and Game of the Year awards on Dec. 18. Two days later, the organizers announced it would be removing both accolades from the title made by developer Sandfall Interactive.

The IGA Nomination Committee announced its decision citing its rules which say how games “developed using generative AI are strictly ineligible for nomination.”

The IGAs Nomination Committee is officially retracting Debut Game and Game of the Year, awarding both categories to new recipients. Additionally, we are retracting one of the Indie Vanguard recipients.

Full details can be found in our FAQ under Game Eligibility: www.indiegameawards.gg/faq

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— The Indie Game Awards (@indiegameawards.gg) December 20, 2025 at 6:45 PM

The IGA says a representative of Sandfall Interactive previously told the organizers that no generative AI was used in the development of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

However, in an interview in July, a producer of the game told El Pais that Sandfall Interactive used “some AI, but not much.” The game reportedly launched with AI-generated textures included before they were replaced at a later date without any clarification from the developer.

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An FAQ on the award website says, “While the assets in question were patched out and it is a wonderful game, it does go against the regulations we have in place.”

The Indie Game Awards announced the next highest-ranked game in each category takes the title for each award. That means Game of the Year is now Blue Prince, while the Debut Game goes to Sorry We’re Closed.