Cover image via PlayStation / YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.
Authenticity is the ultimate currency in the world of indie gaming. For Sandfall Interactive, however, a few AI-generated textures cost them their biggest night.
On 22 December 2025, the Indie Game Awards (IGA) officially rescinded the Game of the Year and Debut Game honours from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
The move came after it was discovered that the game originally shipped with generative AI assets.
This came as a shock to fans, especially since Sandfall representatives had earlier assured the IGA that no such tools were used during production.
On the day of the awards premiere, the studio admitted that AI-generated textures were included at launch
While the developer patched these out five days later, the initial presence of AI assets violated the strict "no-AI" regulations of the event.
The IGA remained firm on its stance, stating that the agreement during submission was breached.
Although the game was widely praised for its visuals and gameplay, the committee noted that the rules were in place to protect human creativity.
The revocation marked a rare and significant moment in the ongoing debate over the soul of game development in 2025
With Expedition 33 out of the running, the IGA awarded the honours to the next-highest-ranked games.
Blue Prince became the official Game of the Year, while Sorry We're Closed received the Debut Game prize.
The sudden shift sparked a wider conversation about transparency between developers and award bodies
Spanish outlet El País reported that Sandfall creative director François Meurisse said in earlier interviews that the team used "some AI, but not much" during production.
While players spotted odd textures shortly after release, the controversy did not reach a boiling point until the IGA took action.
