Indie Game Awards withdraw Expedition 33 awards after AI art use revealed
The Indie Game Awards announced their 2025 winners on a night that should have celebrated indie creativity, yet the ceremony quickly turned into a cautionary tale. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a title that had been lauded for its atmospheric visuals, found its accolades stripped after a resurfaced interview with its developer, Sandfall Interactive, surfaced. That interview confirmed the studio had employed generative‑AI tools to produce some of the game’s artwork—a detail that slipped past the awards’ vetting process.
When the revelation reached the organizers on the day of the premiere, they faced a dilemma: uphold the nominations or enforce the rules that forbid AI‑generated assets. The decision to pull the game’s nominations sent a clear signal to developers about the scrutiny surrounding AI‑created content. It also sparked a broader conversation about where the line is drawn between artistic assistance and rule‑breaking in indie competitions.
In light of a resurfaced interview with Sandfall Interactive confirming the use of gen AI art in production being brought to our attention on the day of the Indie Game Awards 2025 premiere, this does disqualify Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from its nomination. While the assets in question were patche
In light of a resurfaced interview with Sandfall Interactive confirming the use of gen AI art in production being brought to our attention on the day of the Indie Game Awards 2025 premiere, this does disqualify Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from its nomination. While the assets in question were patched out and it is a wonderful game, it does go against the regulations we have in place. The Indie Game Awards' Mike Towndrow also explained the decision in a video on Bluesky.
The Indie Game Awards' criteria, as outlined in that FAQ, says that "Games developed using generative AI are strictly ineligible for nomination." Sandfall Interactive didn't immediately reply to a request for comment. Game of the Year is instead being awarded to puzzle game Blue Prince. Publisher Raw Fury said on Sunday that "there is no AI used in Blue Prince" and that the game "was built and crafted with full human instinct" by Tonda Ros and the Dogubomb team.
"As gen AI becomes more prevalent in our industry, we will better navigate it appropriately," the Indie Game Awards says. The Indie Game Awards is also retracting an Indie Vanguard award from studio Gortyn Code, which developed the Game Boy-inspired game Chantey. The game is sold on a physical cartridge by Palmer Luckey's ModRetro, which makes the Chromatic Game Boy.
Luckey also founded defense contractor Andruil, and Chromatic recently announced an Andruil-branded Chromatic made from "the same magnesium aluminum alloy as Anduril's attack drones." "The IGAs nomination committee were unfortunately made aware of ModRetro's nature and principles the day after the 2025 premiere with the news of their upcoming handheld console," the Indie Game Awards says.
The Indie Game Awards have stripped Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 of both its Game of the Year and Debut Game honors after confirming the studio’s use of generative‑AI art. The decision was announced following a resurfaced interview in which Sandfall Interactive admitted the AI‑created assets were part of the production pipeline. Consequently, the organization also withdrew an award tied to a title distributed by Palmer Luckey’s ModRetro.
While the statement notes that the assets “were patche…”, the incomplete citation leaves details ambiguous. This move underscores the awards’ adherence to eligibility rules that apparently forbid AI‑generated visuals, yet the exact criteria remain opaque. Critics may question whether the policy was clearly communicated to entrants beforehand.
Unclear whether future nominations will face stricter scrutiny or if developers will adjust workflows to avoid similar disqualifications. The episode highlights a tension between artistic experimentation and established award standards, a balance that the Indie Game Awards will need to navigate moving forward. The policy is vague.
Further Reading
- Indie Game Awards pulls two awards from Clair Obscur over generative AI use: 'We have a hard stance against gen AI in videogames' - PC Gamer
- TGA’s Game of the Year Winner Disqualified from Another Award Show Over Gen AI Use - GameRant
- GOTY Winner Clair Obscur Disqualified From Awards Show - GamingBible
- Clair Obscur Fans Think Its Indie GOTY Award Being Taken Away For AI Use Is "Unjust" - TheGamer
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Common Questions Answered
Why were the Game of the Year and Debut Game awards withdrawn from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
The Indie Game Awards stripped those honors after confirming that Sandfall Interactive used generative‑AI tools to create some of the game’s artwork, which violates the awards’ regulations. The decision affected both the Game of the Year and Debut Game categories.
How did the Indie Game Awards learn about the AI‑generated assets in Expedition 33?
A resurfaced interview with Sandfall Interactive’s developer revealed the use of generative‑AI art, and the information was highlighted in a video explanation by Mike Towndrow on Bluesky on the day of the ceremony. The timing coincided with the Indie Game Awards 2025 premiere, prompting immediate action.
What other award was affected besides the ones for Expedition 33, and why?
The organization also withdrew an award linked to a title distributed by Palmer Luckey’s ModRetro, because the same AI‑art controversy raised concerns about compliance with the awards’ rules across multiple entries. This move demonstrated the awards’ commitment to enforce their policy uniformly.
What action did Sandfall Interactive take regarding the contested assets after the controversy?
According to the statement, the AI‑created assets were patched out of the game, but the removal did not reverse the disqualification since the use of generative‑AI art had already breached the Indie Game Awards’ eligibility criteria. The patch was intended to address visual issues, not to retroactively satisfy the competition rules.