The Indie Game Awards has revoked two significant prizes from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, namely Game of the Year and Debut Game, citing the involvement of generative AI by its developer, Sandfall Interactive, according to a Mashable report.
The decision aligns directly with the awards' guidelines, which explicitly bar any titles employing generative AI during production from eligibility. Recent disclosures confirmed that Sandfall incorporated such technology into the creation of Clair Obscur.
Sandfall explained that the AI was applied solely to temporary textures, which were intended for replacement and ultimately excised, though a handful evaded quality assurance and appeared in the released version accessible online. The awards body maintains a firm prohibition on all generative AI applications, leading to this outcome.
The organizers stated: 'Following Sandfall Interactive's acknowledgment of generative AI art usage in production on the premiere date of the Indie Game Awards 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 no longer qualifies for its nomination. Although the relevant assets were subsequently updated and the title remains impressive, it contravenes our established rules.'
The entity organizing the event, Six One Indie, shares some responsibility in this matter. The accolades were conferred just a week prior, despite the AI details surrounding Clair Obscur being public knowledge for several months. Organizers claim they only learned of Sandfall's AI employment on December 18, coinciding with the winner announcements; a simple online search the previous day might have surfaced the information. Notably, Sandfall had affirmed during the entry process that no generative AI was utilized in development.
Consequently, the runners-up in those categories now receive the honors: Blue Prince takes Game of the Year, while Sorry We're Closed claims Debut Game.
Even amid the AI dispute, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 achieved remarkable success at this month's The Game Awards, securing victories in nearly every nominated category, such as Game of the Year. It also featured on our selection of top 2025 titles. Sandfall reported 5 million units sold as of October, a figure that has undoubtedly grown since then.