Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wins GOTY 2025 Amid AI Controversy
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Faces AI Controversy After Historic GOTY Win
The gaming community is once again locked in a heated debate regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence in game development. This time, the spotlight has fallen on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which made history at The Game Awards 2025 by taking home a record nine awards, including the prestigious Game of the Year (GOTY). However, its triumph has been met with a wave of scrutiny following recent comments from Larian Studios about their own AI usage.
The Spark: Larian Studios and the “Divinity” Backlash
The controversy ignited when Swen Vincke, CEO of Larian Studios (the creators of Baldur’s Gate 3), revealed that their upcoming project, a new Divinity game, utilizes generative AI for early ideation and reference. Although Vincke clarified that no AI-generated assets would appear in the final product and that their 23-person concept art team is actively hiring, the statement triggered a massive backlash from fans concerned about the displacement of human artists.
The Connection to Expedition 33
As the internet turned its gaze toward Larian, many pointed out a perceived double standard regarding Sandfall Interactive. Months prior to its release, the developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 admitted to using “a little AI” during the pre-production phase. Specifically, players had previously discovered AI-generated textures used for posters within the game world during launch, which were subsequently patched out and replaced with human-made art within days.
Critics on platforms like X (Twitter) and Reddit are now questioning why Expedition 33 was showered with accolades—winning Best Art Direction and GOTY—despite its confirmed use of AI, while Larian Studios is facing “scorn” for merely exploring the technology for internal brainstorming.
A Deepening Industry Divide
The debate highlights a growing rift in the industry:
- The Anti-AI Camp: Argues that any use of generative AI in creative fields is built on stolen data and devalues human craftsmanship.
- The Pragmatic Camp: Views AI as a modern tool for efficiency—similar to using a search engine—provided it is used for internal placeholders or ideation rather than replacing final creative output.
The drama surrounding Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a classic case of the “Winner’s Tax.” When you are an indie darling, people overlook your shortcuts, but the moment you take the GOTY crown away from giants like Hades 2 or Death Stranding 2, every minor detail is put under a microscope. Sandfall Interactive did the right thing by patching out those placeholder textures early on, but in the eyes of the internet, AI is a bell that cannot be un-rung. Whether it is Larian using it for brainstorming or Sandfall using it for a demo, 2025 has proven that “AI” is the most radioactive word in game development.
 Origin: thegame
