Indie Game Awards disqualifies Game of the Year winner Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for using AI - Eurogamer
December 21, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Indie Game Awards strips Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 of Game of the Year over generative AI use
The Indie Game Awards has revoked two wins for Sandfall Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 after the studio confirmed generative AI art was used in production, contradicting its nomination pledge that no gen AI was involved. Organizers said that even though the assets in question were later patched out and praised the game overall, the use of AI violates eligibility rules.
Key updates
- Awards retracted: Game of the Year and Debut Game; one Indie Vanguard recipient was also rescinded.
- Reassigned winners: Blue Prince now takes Game of the Year; Sorry We're Closed is the new Debut Game honoree. Acceptance speeches will be recorded and shared in the new year.
- Policy: The IGAs maintain a strict no-gen-AI stance across the nomination process and ceremony. Confirmation of AI-generated art on awards day triggered disqualification.
- Assets in question: The IGA did not specify which images were affected; fans believe they found examples that have since been removed.
Context
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been a breakout hit in 2025: launched in April, sold 3.3 million by May, and surpassed 5 million by October across platforms.
- The game's earlier Game of the Year recognition drew national attention, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling the win a point of pride for Montpellier and for France.
Bottom line
- Rule consistency prevailed: despite patches and acclaim, the admission of gen AI use made the entry ineligible, prompting the award reassignments.