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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 initially won Game of the Year and Debut Game at the 2025 Indie Game Awards. The awards organization later retracted both honors after developer Sandfall Interactive confirmed that generative-AI art had been used in production. Blue Prince was named Game of the Year instead, while Sorry We’re Closed received Debut Game.
Why were the awards retracted?
The Indie Game Awards said its representative had agreed during submission that no generative AI was used in the game’s development. On the day of the 2025 ceremony premiere, Sandfall Interactive confirmed the use of generative-AI art in production. The organization said that confirmation disqualified the game under its eligibility position.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Clair Obscur Expedition 33 PS5 | $45.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PS5) | $41.74 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - For PS5 | $45.68 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - For PlayStation 5 | $67.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Metaphor: ReFantazio Launch Edition - PlayStation 5 | $38.89 | Buy on Amazon |
Mike Towndrow of the awards’ nomination committee described the policy this way: “We have a hard stance against gen AI in videogames, it’s something we talk about throughout the year when discussing any potential nominees.” The organization’s stated rationale was therefore an eligibility decision tied to its policy and the submission representation, not a universal ruling about games that use AI.
What changed after the ceremony?
The 2025 ceremony initially recognized Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in two categories. After the organization’s decision, it retracted both the Game of the Year and Debut Game awards and named replacement recipients:
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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
| Category | Initial recipient | Replacement recipient |
|---|---|---|
| Game of the Year | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Blue Prince |
| Debut Game | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Sorry We’re Closed |
What the decision does—and does not—mean
This change concerns the Indie Game Awards’ eligibility decision. It does not, by itself, reverse awards the game may have received from other ceremonies. The reported rationale establishes the awards body’s response to Sandfall’s confirmation; it is not an independent audit of the game’s build or a claim that every current copy contains AI-generated material.
The cited coverage listed the game for PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. That platform information does not establish current store availability or the existence of a particular physical edition.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- IGN and GameSpot "Game of the Year" and "Best RPG" from The Game Awards
- ATLUS' newest fantasy JRPG with beautiful anime cutscenes
- Free demo with save-data carry over
- Awaken 40+ "Archetypes," magical powers that lie dormant in your heart
- Innovative battle system that blends strategic turn-based combat and dynamic real-time combat
Rank #4
- 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.
Rank #3
- 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.
Rank #2
- 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
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