‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ Stripped Of Indie Game Awards Wins Over Gen AI Use

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was stripped of its Indie Game Awards wins after organizers confirmed the RPG had used generative AI during development, violating the event’s zero‑tolerance policy. Sandfall Interactive had certified no AI involvement during submission, but later admitted placeholder textures created with generative AI slipped into the launch build before being patched out. The contradiction prompted Six One Indie to revoke both Game of the Year and Best Debut Game, reassigning them to Blue Prince and Sorry We’re Closed. The case highlights growing industry tension over transparency, tooling, and strict enforcement of “zero‑AI” rules.