Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Director Responds After AI Claims Cost the Game Awards

Generative AI remains one of the most contentious topics in modern game development, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 unexpectedly found itself at the center of that debate this year. The RPG developed by Sandfall Interactive had two Indie Game Awards wins quietly revoked.

The title originally won Game of the Year and Best Debut Game, but organizers later pulled both awards following concerns over alleged generative AI use. No detailed explanation was provided at the time, which only fueled speculation.

The decision was especially jarring given the game’s wider success. Having awards removed retroactively sparked backlash from players and reignited wider industry debates about transparency and AI boundaries. Well, the game director has finally issued a statement.

In a new Q&A hosted by publisher Kepler Interactive (via YouTube/Sushi), game director Guillaume Broche addressed the controversy directly, pushing back against claims that AI played a role in the final game.

“Everything in the game is human-made,” Broche said. He acknowledged that the studio briefly experimented with AI tools in 2022, when the technology was still emerging. However, he described the use as limited and short-lived.

“We tried it, and we didn’t like it at all. It felt wrong,” Broche explained. AI-generated textures were used temporarily as placeholders and removed once proper assets were ready. According to Broche, all final artwork, voice acting, and content were created by humans.

Broche also made it clear Sandfall has no plans to revisit AI tools, even as larger studios increasingly adopt them. For many players, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s handcrafted feel is exactly what sets it apart.