Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has had its Game of the Year and Best Debut Game awards revoked by the Indie Game Awards following confirmation that generative artificial intelligence tools were used during development.
The controversy surfaced shortly after the Indie Game Awards ceremony held on December 18, when Expedition 33 was initially announced as the winner of both categories. Days later, awards organizers revealed that developer Sandfall Interactive had acknowledged using generative AI to create placeholder art assets during early development. While those assets were later removed and replaced before or shortly after launch, the awards body determined that their use violated eligibility rules.
According to the Indie Game Awards, studios submitting games must certify that no generative AI was used at any point in development. Organizers stated that Sandfall Interactive had indicated no AI use during the submission process. However, confirmation on the day of the awards that AI tools had been used, even temporarily, rendered the game ineligible under existing rules. As a result, the awards were formally rescinded.
With Expedition 33 disqualified, the Indie Game Awards reassigned Game of the Year to Blue Prince, while Sorry We’re Closed received the Best Debut Game honor. Organizers said updated acceptance materials from the new winners will be released in early 2026 to reflect the changes.
The ruling has drawn attention in part because of Expedition 33’s otherwise successful year. The role-playing game earned strong critical praise and recognition at multiple industry events in 2025, including major wins at The Game Awards. Many observers are saying the decision shows how inconsistent standards are across award shows when it comes to AI-assisted development.
Industry reaction has been mixed. Some developers argue that a zero-tolerance approach fails to account for how modern studios experiment with tools during early production, particularly when AI-generated content does not appear in the final product. Others support the strict policy, saying clear boundaries are necessary to protect creative labor and ensure fair competition, especially within the indie space.
Sandfall Interactive has said that no AI-generated assets remain in the current version of Expedition 33 and described the AI use as limited testing rather than a core part of production. Nevertheless, the Indie Game Awards maintained that their rules leave no room for exceptions, regardless of how minor or temporary the usage may have been.
As AI tools become more common in game development, the situation surrounding Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 reveals a growing challenge for both developers and award bodies. How those rules evolve may shape not only future award outcomes, but also how studios approach transparency around emerging technologies.
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