The Indie Game Awards 2025, organized by Six One Indie, revoked Game of the Year and Best Debut Indie Game awards from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 after developer Sandfall Interactive confirmed using generative AI for temporary placeholder textures—a violation of the event's strict no-AI rules. Blue Prince and Sorry We’re Closed are the new recipients amid criticism of enforcement timing.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a critically acclaimed turn-based RPG from French studio Sandfall Interactive (published by Kepler Interactive), launched in April 2025 to massive success: nine wins at The Game Awards including Game of the Year, GameSpot's award, a 92 Metacritic critic score and 9.6 user rating, over 5 million sales by October (surging further post-ceremony with new DLC), and praise from French President Emmanuel Macron.
However, at the Indie Game Awards premiere on December 18, 2025, the game initially claimed Game of the Year and Best Debut Indie Game victories. Organizers unanimously revoked them on December 21 after Sandfall admitted limited generative AI use during 2022 prototyping for placeholder textures. Some assets evaded QA, appearing in the launch build before being patched out within five days and replaced with human-created ones.
Sandfall had assured organizers of no AI during submission, despite prior public indications: an April 26 Twitter post by Nyanomancer spotting AI textures and a July 19 El País interview with producer François Meurisse acknowledging minor use. The IGA FAQ prohibits any generative AI in production, regardless of final inclusion. Six One Indie stated: "In light of Sandfall Interactive confirming the use of gen AI art in production on the day of the Indie Game Awards 2025 premiere, this does disqualify Clair Obscur: Expedition 33... it does go against the regulations."
New winner Blue Prince, a roguelike puzzle game developed over eight years, was highlighted by publisher Raw Fury as "built and crafted with full human instinct." Criticism has focused on the revocation's timing, with Reddit users labeling it 'performative' given months-old reports, and questioning rigid policies amid rising AI adoption in prototyping.
As previously covered in this series on AI tensions in indie development, the incident underscores debates over transparency, AI's role, and 'indie' definitions, though it hasn't impacted the game's popularity.
