French President Emmanuel Macron has praised the developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for their record-breaking wins at The Game Awards. The Montpellier-based Sandfall Interactive team secured nine awards, including Game of the Year, marking a historic achievement for a French game. Macron highlighted the success as a point of national pride on social media.
Award Wins and Records
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by Sandfall Interactive, made history at The Game Awards by winning nine categories, the most ever for a single title. The game received 13 nominations, also a record, and triumphed in Game of the Year, Best Indie Game, Best Debut Indie Game, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best RPG, Best Narrative, Best Game Direction, and Best Performance for actor Jennifer English. It fell short in Best Audio Design, which went to Battlefield 6, and the Players' Voice award, claimed by Wuthering Waves.
The event took place in Los Angeles, underscoring the global reach of this French production. Sandfall Interactive, based in Montpellier, expressed deep gratitude in their response, noting the wins had profoundly impacted their team. 'Thank you to everyone who helped bring Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to life,' they stated. 'Thank you to all our players for your passion... Thank you for changing our lives.'
Presidential Recognition
President Macron celebrated the milestone on Instagram, calling it a 'historic first for a French title.' He wrote, 'Great pride for Montpellier and for France. Congratulations to the Sandfall Interactive team. For future generations and those that follow!' This is not the first time Macron has acknowledged the game; earlier in the year, he commended its one million sales and high ratings, describing it as an example of 'French audacity and creativity.'
The success highlights the growing influence of indie developers from France in the international gaming scene, with Expedition 33 standing out for its narrative depth and artistic elements.
