What Happened?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a visually striking indie RPG that gained strong attention for its art style and combat design, has been disqualified from the Indie Game Awards after organizers determined that the project made extensive use of generative AI, violating eligibility rules.

The decision removes the game from award consideration entirely and has reignited a wider conversation about where AI fits in indie game development.

This article focuses only on what matters to readers:
why the disqualification happened, what rules were involved, and what it means for future indie games.

Why Was Expedition 33 Disqualified?

According to award criteria, indie submissions must be primarily human-created, especially in areas like:

• Visual assets

• Narrative content

• World design

• Character elements

The investigation concluded that generative AI played a substantial role in the game’s production pipeline rather than being used as a minor assistive tool.

This crossed the threshold allowed under Indie Game Awards guidelines.

The action taken is a disqualification from the current award cycle only.

Unless the organizers publicly state otherwise, the game or the studio is not automatically barred from future Indie Game Awards.

Key Issue in Simple Terms

AI wasn’t just helping it was doing too much of the creative work.

This Wasn’t a Sudden Discovery

An important detail often missed in quick headlines:

Fans had raised concerns months ago on Reddit about AI usage in Expedition 33, but no official attention was given at the time.

Multiple Reddit threads questioned:

• There are similarities in art patterns

• Repetition of stylish elements

• Inconsistencies typical of AI-generated assets

However, those discussions never escalated into formal scrutiny until the award review process.

This got attention during the final evaluation

What Rules Did the Game Violate?

While the Indie Game Awards do not have anything against the use of AI but, they draw a clear line between:

Expedition 33 reportedly fell into the second category.

This distinction matters because indie awards exist to celebrate human creativity, not automated production.

Why This Matters to Indie Developers

This decision sets a clear precedent.

Indie studios now know:

• AI usage will be reviewed

• Disclosure matters

• “How much AI” is more important than “whether AI”

For small teams, AI tools are tempting.
But this case shows that over-reliance can cost recognition.

Community Reaction: Divided but Serious

The response online has been split:

Some players argue:

“AI is just another tool. Small teams need it.”

Others counter:

“Awards should reward human creativity, not automation.”

What’s consistent across both sides is this:
Transparency was missing, and that damaged trust.

Does This Affect the Game Itself?

No, the game is not banned from sale.
The players can still buy the game and play it.

The disqualification only affects the following things for the game:

• Award eligibility

• Critical recognition

• Industry positioning

But for an indie title, awards can significantly influence:

• Visibility

• Publisher interest

• Long-term reputation

The Bigger Picture: AI and Indie Games

This isn’t just about one game.

It highlights a growing industry question:

How much AI is too much before a game stops being “indie”?

As generative tools become more powerful, award bodies are being forced to define boundaries that didn’t exist a few years ago.

This case may shape future submission rules across:

• Indie showcases

• Festivals

• Game awards globally

Google FAQs (SEO Optimized)

1. Why was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 disqualified?

   Because extensive generative AI usage violated Indie Game Awards eligibility rules.

   
   

2. Is AI completely banned in indie games?

   No. Limited, assistive AI use is allowed, but heavy creative reliance is not.

   
   

3. Was this issue known earlier?

   Yes. Fans raised concerns on Reddit months ago, but no official action was taken then.

   
   

4. Can the game still be played or purchased?

   Yes. The disqualification only affects awards, not sales.

   
   

5. Will this affect future indie games?

   Likely yes. It sets a precedent for how AI usage will be evaluated.