The Indie Sport Awards has stripped Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 of two main awards, together with Sport of the 12 months and Debut Sport. This is because of developer Sandfall Interactive's use of generative AI, as reported by Mashable.
This appears to be like to be pretty reduce and dry. The awards ceremony clearly states in its FAQ that any sport that makes use of generative AI within the improvement course of can be "strictly ineligible" for nominations. It was lately revealed that Sandfall did certainly use generative AI whereas making Clair Obscur.
Right me if I'm improper, however it seems as if Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 used generative AI for these textures. pic.twitter.com/V6mtdG8bUx
— Nyanomancer (@nyanomancer) April 26, 2025
The corporate says it was just for placeholder textures that had been later eliminated, however just a few squeezed previous the QA course of and made their approach to the ultimate sport and, as such, the web. The Indie Sport Awards is obvious about disallowing any use of generative AI and, so, right here we’re.
"In mild of Sandfall Interactive confirming using gen AI artwork in manufacturing on the day of the Indie Sport Awards 2025 premiere, this does disqualify Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from its nomination," the group wrote. "Whereas the belongings in query had been patched out and it’s a fantastic sport, it does go in opposition to the laws now we have in place."
Six One Indie, the corporate behind the ceremony, deserves a smidge of the blame right here. These awards had been initially handed out final week and we've identified about the entire Clair Obscur AI factor for months. It says it didn't uncover Sandfall's use of AI till December 18, the day the winners had been introduced. A Google search on December 17 probably would've helped. It’s value noting, nevertheless, that Sandfall did beforehand agree that no generative AI was used throughout improvement as a part of the submission course of.
In any occasion, the second-highest scoring titles in every class now will get the award. Because of this Blue Prince is now Sport of the 12 months and Sorry We're Closed snags Debut Sport.
Regardless of this AI controversy, Clair Obscur had a record-setting evening at this month's The Sport Awards. It received nearly all the pieces it was put up for, together with Sport of the 12 months. It additionally made our checklist of the perfect video games of 2025. The developer introduced that it had bought 5 million copies again in October. That quantity is definitely a lot increased by now.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-indie-game-awards-snatches-back-two-trophies-from-clair-obscur-over-its-use-of-generative-ai-164730842.html?src=rss