In the span of a week, Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was named Game of the Year by both The Game Awards and The Indie Game Awards. But just two days after its latest win, The Indie Game Awards stripped Expedition 33 of its two wins over the developer’s use of AI.
“The Indie Game Awards have a hard stance on the use of gen AI throughout the nomination process and during the ceremony itself,” reads a statement on The Indie Game Awards’ official site (via Insider Gaming). “When it was submitted for consideration, representatives 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 on the day of the Indie Game Awards 2025 premiere, this does disqualify Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from its nomination.”
Following that decision, The Indie Game Awards named Blue Prince as its new Game of the Year. Sorry We’re Closed was given the award for Debut Game, which Expedition 33 previously claimed.
