Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was disqualified from the 2025 Indie Game Awards after Sandfall Interactive confirmed that generative AI art had been used during production. The organizers said the confirmation conflicted with an earlier submission representation that AI had not been used, and withdrew the game’s Debut Game and Game of the Year awards. Sandfall later said its AI use was brief experimentation with temporary placeholder textures, and that no AI-created assets remain in the game.
What happened to Expedition 33 at the Indie Game Awards?
The Indie Game Awards presented its awards on December 18, 2025, then announced on December 21 that it was retracting two awards from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. PC Gamer reported that the organizers cited the studio’s confirmation of generative-AI use and an earlier assurance in the nomination process that AI had not been used in development.
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The organizers said the use made the game ineligible under their rules. This was an eligibility decision by the Indie Game Awards; it does not mean the game was disqualified from every awards program.
What Sandfall said about AI use
In a clarification reproduced by JPGames.de, Sandfall Interactive said team members briefly experimented with AI tools after they became available in 2022, creating temporary placeholder textures. The studio said there are no generative-AI-created assets in the game. It also said placeholder instances missed during quality assurance were replaced with the intended textures within five days of release.
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- Reactive Turn-based Combat: Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and &character synergies
- Dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system
- With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, & fellow Expeditioners as they embark on a desperate quest to break Paintress’ cycle of death
- Explore an enchanting realm populated by adversaries; Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield
- Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack
These are the studio’s statements; the available reporting does not independently verify the game’s builds or patch history. The organizers’ eligibility decision and Sandfall’s account of what remained in the released game address different questions: whether AI was used during production, and whether AI-created assets remained in the game.
Which awards were withdrawn?
| Award | Original recipient | Recipient after retraction |
|---|---|---|
| Debut Game | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Sorry We’re Closed |
| Game of the Year | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Blue Prince |
The Indie Game Awards statement, reproduced by JPGames.de, said that although the assets in question had been patched out, their use went against the awards’ regulations. PC Gamer reported that the organizers described their stance on generative AI in games as firm.
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- Reactive Turn-based Combat - In this evolution of JRPGs, real-time actions enhance the heart of turn-based combat. Build your party and level up six characters. Craft unique builds for your expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and character synergies. Open an active dimension in combat - dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free-aim system.
- “Tomorrow Comes” - With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners as they embark upon a desperate quest to break the Paintress’ cycle of death. Follow the trail of previous expeditions and discover their fate. Get to know the members of Expedition 33 as they learn to work together against impossible odds.
- A Hauntingly Beautiful World - Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend and recruit a special companion who can access new travel methods and secret areas in the World Map.
- Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack.
- European/ UK version
Why the decision was made
The award organizers focused on generative-AI use during development and the game’s eligibility under their policy. Their statement said a Sandfall representative had earlier confirmed that AI had not been used, while the later confirmation indicated that it had. The available sources do not establish why the earlier representation differed, so it should not be treated as proof of intent.
Sandfall, in turn, described temporary placeholder textures and said the missed instances were replaced after release. That account does not change the organizers’ stated basis for the award retraction: the confirmed use conflicted with their eligibility rules.
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FAQ
Why was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 disqualified?
The Indie Game Awards said Sandfall confirmed generative-AI art had been used during production, conflicting with an earlier submission representation that AI had not been used. The organizers ruled the game ineligible under their policy.
Did AI-generated assets remain in the game?
Sandfall said there are no generative-AI-created assets in the game. It said temporary placeholder textures missed during quality assurance were replaced within five days of release. The available reporting does not independently verify the game builds or patch history.
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- Engaging Storyline: Dive into a rich, narrative-driven adventure with unexpected twists.
- Complex Puzzles: Test your problem-solving skills with challenging puzzles.
- Immersive World: Explore a visually stunning alien planet with breathtaking details and treacherous terrain.
Which awards did Expedition 33 lose?
The organizers retracted its Debut Game and Game of the Year awards. Sorry We’re Closed received Debut Game, and Blue Prince received Game of the Year.
Was Expedition 33 disqualified from all awards?
No. The decision described here concerns the 2025 Indie Game Awards. It should not be conflated with decisions by other awards organizations.
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Sources
- PC Gamer, reporting on the award retraction and organizers’ explanation.
- JPGames.de, reproducing the organizers’ statement and Sandfall’s clarification.
- Games.ch, reporting on the disqualification.
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