Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by Sandfall Interactive, initially achieved significant recognition at the Indie Game Awards hosted by Six One Indie on December 18, where it was honored with both the Best Debut Game and the prestigious Indie Game of the Year awards. However, a mere two days later, the game faced a drastic turn of events: it was disqualified from eligibility. Consequently, its awards were rescinded and subsequently conferred upon the runners-up, a decision prompted by revelations concerning the game's utilization of generative AI technology.

The indie status of Sandfall Interactive itself had been a subject of contention among many within the gaming community even prior to this incident. Critics often cited the studio's perceived 'AAA prestige' and its substantial team size as factors that challenged its classification as an independent developer, especially when contrasted with numerous truly independent games crafted by teams of fewer than ten individuals. Despite these ongoing discussions, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 had met the initial criteria for the IGA’s awards until the extent of its generative AI use came to light.

Evidence of generative AI integration emerged through screenshots taken close to the game's launch in April. These images prominently displayed a pillar adorned with posters featuring generated text and visuals. Notably, these specific elements were quietly removed or patched out shortly after the game's release, indicating an attempt to mitigate their visibility. While other games, such as The Alters, transparently disclosed their use of generative AI for elements like placeholders and even some subtitles, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's usage largely remained under the radar. Despite this, the developers had previously acknowledged, albeit vaguely, their use of “some, not much” generative AI in an interview with the Spanish periodical El País back in July, a disclosure that gained renewed scrutiny following the disqualification.