Indie Game Awards Revokes Expedition 33 Win Over AI Use
▼ Summary
– The Indie Game Awards retracted the Game of the Year and Debut Game awards from *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* after confirming the developer used generative AI in production.
– The awards organization has a strict policy disqualifying any game developed using generative AI, which the developer had initially agreed was not the case.
– The Game of the Year award was instead given to *Blue Prince*, a puzzle game whose publisher confirmed it was created without any AI.
– The Indie Game Awards also retracted an Indie Vanguard award from *Chantey* due to its publisher ModRetro’s ties to defense contractor Anduril.
– The organization stated the retraction against *Chantey* reflects solely on ModRetro’s principles and not on the game’s developer, Gortyn Code.
The recent Indie Game Awards ceremony took an unexpected turn when the organization rescinded its top honor from a winning title. The Game of the Year award for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was officially revoked after the event’s organizers confirmed the developer, Sandfall Interactive, had utilized generative AI during the game’s production. This decision underscores a strict policy against AI-generated content within the awards’ eligibility criteria.
According to a detailed FAQ released by the Indie Game Awards, a representative from Sandfall Interactive had initially confirmed that no generative AI was used in the game’s development when it was submitted for consideration. However, a previously recorded interview with the developer resurfaced on the day of the 2025 awards premiere, confirming the use of AI-generated art assets. Although those specific assets were later patched out of the game, the violation of the awards’ clear regulations led to the disqualification. The organization’s Mike Towndrow further elaborated on the decision in a video statement.
The awards’ official criteria explicitly state that “Games developed using generative AI are strictly ineligible for nomination.” This policy left no room for ambiguity once the evidence came to light. Sandfall Interactive has not yet provided a public comment regarding the retraction. Following this action, the Game of the Year title was instead awarded to the puzzle game Blue Prince. Its publisher, Raw Fury, emphasized that the title was crafted entirely by human developers, stating it “was built and crafted with full human instinct.”
In a related move, the Indie Game Awards also retracted an Indie Vanguard award from studio Gortyn Code for its Game Boy-inspired title, Chantey. This decision was not related to AI but to the game’s association with the hardware company ModRetro, which produces physical cartridges for the title. The awards committee stated it became aware of ModRetro’s “nature and principles” following the premiere, leading to the retraction to avoid providing the company with a platform. The organization was careful to note that this judgment was directed at ModRetro alone and not the development studio behind the game.
These incidents highlight the growing pains within the gaming industry as it grapples with new technologies. The Indie Game Awards acknowledged this shift, noting, “As gen AI becomes more prevalent in our industry, we will better navigate it appropriately.” The organization’s firm stance sets a significant precedent for how creative integrity and technological tools are evaluated in competitive spaces.
(Source: The Verge)
