Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Stripped of Indie Game Awards Due to AI Use

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Disqualified from Indie Game Awards Over AI Usage

In a shocking turn of events for the indie development scene, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been officially stripped of its major wins at the Indie Game Awards 2025. The game, which had initially secured the prestigious Game of the Year and Debut Game awards, was disqualified after organizers confirmed that generative AI was used during its production, violating the ceremony’s strict eligibility rules.

The AI Assets in Question

The controversy stems from the discovery of AI-generated textures used as background assets in the version of the game that was released. Although the developer, Sandfall Interactive, quickly issued a patch to remove these assets and replace them with hand-crafted art shortly after launch, the awards committee ruled that the damage was already done.

According to the official statement from the Indie Game Awards (IGA) committee:

• Misrepresentation: When the game was submitted for consideration, representatives reportedly agreed that no generative AI was used.
• Confirmation: On the day of the 2025 premiere, producer François Meurisse confirmed that some AI art had indeed been utilized during the production process.
• Strict Policy: The IGA maintains a “hard stance” against the use of generative AI at any stage of development, regardless of whether the assets are later removed or used only as placeholders.

New Winners Crowned

Following the disqualification, the committee has reassigned the awards to the next highest-ranked nominees in each category:

• Game of the Year: Now awarded to Blue Prince.
• Debut Game: Now awarded to Sorry We’re Closed.

Despite this setback at the Indie Game Awards, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 remains a critical and commercial darling, having dominated The Game Awards 2025 earlier this month with a record-breaking nine trophies. As of now, those global awards remain unaffected, as the “no-AI” rule is specific to the indie-focused showcase.

This disqualification is a massive “reality check” for developers navigating the ethics of AI in 2026. While many studios in the SEA region and beyond see AI as a vital tool for saving time on minor textures or placeholders, the Indie Game Awards has drawn a line in the sand: “Indie” must mean human-made from start to finish. The irony is that Expedition 33 is a masterpiece of art and design, and the “AI textures” were so minor they were patched out within days. However, the committee’s decision isn’t about the quality of the game—it’s about the integrity of the submission process. By being dishonest about the AI usage during the application, Sandfall unfortunately handed the committee the gun to shoot down their own accolades. This will undoubtedly become the benchmark case for how award bodies handle AI transparency moving forward.

Origin: polygon