Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has lost a recent Game of the Year honor after organizers determined that the title violated award rules related to generative artificial intelligence. The decision was announced by The Indie Game Awards following a review of the game’s development history and prior public statements from the studio behind it, Sandfall Interactive.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been one of the most visible releases of 2025, earning recognition across multiple award shows and appearing on numerous year-end lists. On December 18, the Indie Game Awards named it both Debut Game of the Year and overall Game of the Year. Two days later, those awards were rescinded. The IGA Nomination Committee cited eligibility rules stating that games developed using generative AI tools are not permitted to compete for awards.
According to the organizers, the reversal followed conflicting information about the role of AI in the game’s production. The committee stated that a representative for Sandfall Interactive had previously indicated that no generative AI was used during development. However, a separate interview published earlier in the year complicated that claim. In a July interview with El País, a producer associated with the project acknowledged the limited use of AI tools, describing it as “some AI, but not much.”
Further scrutiny revealed that the game launched with a small number of AI-generated textures, which were later removed via updates. The developer did not publicly clarify the change at the time, and the IGA said this omission factored into its decision. In an FAQ published on the awards’ website, the organization stated that while the assets in question were patched out and the game itself remains well regarded, their inclusion still placed the title outside the competition’s rules.
The Indie Game Awards emphasized that its policy on generative AI is strict and applies regardless of scale or intent. As a result, both awards were reassigned rather than left vacant. The Game of the Year title now goes to Blue Prince, while the Debut Game award has been awarded to Sorry We’re Closed, each of which was next in line based on the judges’ rankings.
The incident highlights a growing tension within the games industry as award bodies and creators navigate how to define acceptable uses of AI-assisted tools. While many studios experiment with automation and generative systems at various stages of production, not all organizations agree on where to draw the line. In this case, the Indie Game Awards chose to enforce its rules strictly, even after the fact, setting a precedent that may influence how developers disclose their workflows in the future.
