Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 kept its Game of the Year award from The Game Awards after Sandfall Interactive disclosed limited generative AI use. The separate Indie Game Awards later withdrew that game’s Game of the Year and Debut Game awards, saying the use violated its eligibility rules. Those are two different ceremonies and two different outcomes.
Did Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 use AI?
Sandfall Interactive said team members briefly experimented with generative AI and used it to make placeholder textures during development. The studio said those textures were removed. This is the studio’s account, not an independent audit of every asset or the game’s full production history.
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Clair Obscur Expedition 33 PS5 | $46.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PS5) | $41.19 | Buy on Amazon |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - For PS5 | $45.68 | Buy on Amazon |
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![Clair Obscur Expedition 33 [Korean Edition] for PS5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51aLPXPHeFL._SL160_.jpg)
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Clair Obscur Expedition 33 [Korean Edition] for PS5 | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Monolith Set Collector's Edition | $550.00 | Buy on Amazon |
In a publisher-hosted Q&A reported by Push Square, director Guillaume Broche described the team’s reaction to trying the tools after they became available in 2022: “It felt wrong.” He also said: “But yeah, the concept art, voice actors, everything is human-made.” Those remarks clarify Sandfall’s position; they do not establish an independent review of every production asset.
Producer François Meurisse had earlier been quoted as saying, “We use some AI, but not much.” GameSpot’s report and VideoGamer’s coverage place that remark alongside Sandfall’s later clarification. It is a brief characterization, not a detailed technical account of what was used or where.
#1 Best Overall
- 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
Why did the Indie Game Awards take back its awards?
The Indie Game Awards were a separate event from The Game Awards. Their organizers withdrew Clair Obscur: Expedition 33‘s Game of the Year and Debut Game awards after Sandfall confirmed generative AI use. The organizers said the game had been submitted under an agreement that no generative AI had been used.
As reported by GameSpot, the nomination committee explained its decision: “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.” The decision reflects that ceremony’s eligibility rule; it does not mean every award organization applies the same standard.
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
The December 2025 ceremony initially recognized the game, but the organizers announced the retraction days later. The replacement recipients were Blue Prince for Game of the Year and Sorry We’re Closed for Debut Game, according to PC Gamer’s report.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did it lose The Game Awards’ Game of the Year?
No. The Game Awards’ official record lists Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as its 2025 Game of the Year, credited to Sandfall Interactive and Kepler Interactive. Its results were not withdrawn in the official record cited here. The Game Awards’ winners announcement lists nine wins: Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Performance, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, and Best RPG.
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.
The distinction is the key to the headline: Sandfall’s AI disclosure led to the loss of two honors from the Indie Game Awards, not the nine awards from The Game Awards. A Le Monde report said the game had 12 nominations at The Game Awards and won nine trophies; the official awards post confirms the wins.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- COLLECTOR'S EDITION SET: Premium Monolith Set for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 featuring an exclusive collectible statue, expedition journal, and decorative outer box for fans and collectors
- DETAILED MONOLITH STATUE: Intricately designed collectible statue featuring the iconic Expedition 33 monolith with weathered stone textures, gold accents, and atmospheric detailing that captures the game's dark fantasy aesthetic
- EXPEDITION JOURNAL: Exclusive hardcover journal with themed artwork and design elements from the game, perfect for notes, sketches, or as a display piece alongside the statue
- PREMIUM PACKAGING: Comes in a striking collector's box featuring dramatic character artwork with rose petal effects and distressed design elements that reflect the game's mysterious atmosphere
- PERFECT FOR DISPLAY: The monolith statue serves as an impressive centerpiece for any gaming collection or display shelf, celebrating the unique world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Rank #4
- This is KOEAN VERSION released in South Korea. Region Free title so you can play it on your system.
- Language: Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
What the award dispute does—and does not—establish
- Established: The Game Awards named Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 its 2025 Game of the Year and listed nine total wins.
- Established: The Indie Game Awards withdrew its Game of the Year and Debut Game honors after Sandfall confirmed generative AI use, citing its own eligibility requirement.
- Attributed to Sandfall: The studio said AI use was brief and limited to placeholder textures that were later removed, and Broche said concept art and voice acting were human-made.
- Not established by these reports: An independent examination of every asset or a complete technical account of the game’s development. The evidence does not support saying AI made the game or that it was broadly used across all of its art.
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