Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has had two awards withdrawn by the Indie Game Awards due to its use of AI during development, the organisation has revealed.
Sandfall Interactive’s critically acclaimed title had previously scooped up the awards for Debut Game and Game of the Year, but writing in an X post over the weekend, the Nomination Committee for the IGAs has confirmed that both of these awards are being retracted.
The Indie Game Awards have a hard stance on the use of gen AI throughout the nomination process and during the ceremony itself. When it was submitted for consideration, a representative of Sandfall Interactive agreed that no gen AI was used in the development of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In light of Sandfall Interactive confirming the use of gen AI art in production on the day of the Indie Game Awards 2025 premiere, this does disqualify Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from its nomination.
As a result of the decision, Sorry We’re Closed has been awarded Debut Game while Blue Prince has bagged Game of the Year, with acceptance speeches due to be recorded and shared in 2026.
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 enjoyed great success during The Game Awards 2025 earlier this month, picking up Game of the Year Best Art Direction, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Performance (Jennifer English), Best Score & Music, Best Independent Game, Best RPG, and Debut Indie Game.
You can read our full review of Clair Obscur Expedition here.
[Source – The Indie Game Awards via Eurogamer]