Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Developers Abandon AI Experiment Amid Controversy

The creative director of  Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Guillaume Broche, revealed that Sandfall Interactive indeed experimented with generative AI during the game’s development but quickly abandoned the idea. He stated that the final version of the project contains no elements created by machines.

In a conversation with the creator of the YouTube channel Sushi, Broche explained that the experiment took place in early 2022, coinciding with the surge of interest in AI, while the RPG was already under full development. The team viewed the technology as just another tool, but their experience turned out to be unsatisfactory. AI was solely used temporarily to fill in missing textures and was subsequently removed from the game entirely.

The project leader emphasized that all critical components of the game—ranging from concept art to voice acting—were crafted by humans. These areas often raise questions among gamers, but Sandfall insists that no automated solutions were utilized. Furthermore, the studio has no intentions of returning to such tools in the future.

Broche’s statement comes amid controversy surrounding Expedition 33. Following the revelation of the AI experiment, the organizers of the Indie Game Awards revoked two of the game’s accolades, including «Game of the Year,» due to their strict stance against the use of such technologies.