Expedition 33 Stripped of Awards After AI Admission
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been disqualified from the Indie Game Awards and stripped of both its Game of the Year and Debut Game wins. Organizers revoked the awards after developer Sandfall Interactive confirmed using generative AI during development. The announcement came just hours after the pre-recorded award ceremony aired, sparking immediate industry debate.
Awards Revoked Following Post-Ceremony AI Admission
The Indie Game Awards committee enforced its strict no-AI policy retroactively. Representatives for Sandfall Interactive had previously confirmed no generative AI was used when submitting the game for consideration. The developer’s admission on the day of the awards premiere triggered the disqualification. The re-awarded trophies now go to Sorry We’re Closed (Debut Game) and Blue Prince (Game of the Year).
This marks the first major disqualification in the awards’ history over AI use. The committee’s statement emphasized its “hard stance” against generative AI in nominated games. The swift action establishes a clear precedent for future submissions and ceremonies.
Controversy Highlights Industry-Wide AI Transparency Crisis
The incident exposes growing tensions around AI disclosure in game development. Sandfall Interactive’s COO had mentioned using “some AI, but not much” in a July interview, but this was not formally disclosed to awards organizers. The discrepancy between public statements and awards submissions has damaged developer credibility.
The gaming community is now questioning other award shows’ policies. Attention turns to The Game Awards, where Expedition 33 won a record nine awards. Pressure mounts on Geoff Keighley’s show to address whether similar verification processes exist. This event forces all major ceremonies to re-examine their submission guidelines and vetting procedures.
