The developers behind one of 2025's most celebrated video games have publicly expressed regret for their brief experimentation with generative AI, stating the tool 'felt wrong' and vowing never to use it again.
Awards Stripped Amid AI Controversy
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the acclaimed French role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive, saw its awards season momentum disrupted by revelations of AI use. After securing a record-breaking nine awards at The Game Awards, the title was stripped of two accolades at The Indie Game Awards once the developers' use of generative artificial intelligence came to light.
The studio has since clarified that the technology was employed solely to create placeholder textures for assets that were missing during development. These AI-generated elements were completely removed via post-launch patches, with all final content in the shipped game being crafted by humans.
'Everything Is Human Made'
During a Discord Q&A session for content creators this month, the game's director, Guillaume Broche, addressed the growing controversy. When questioned by YouTuber Sushi about the role of AI, Broche was unequivocal.
'Everything in the game is human made,' Broche stated. 'When AI first really came out in 2022, we'd already started on the game. It was just a new tool, we tried it, and we didn't like it at all. It felt wrong.'
He elaborated on the studio's process, confirming that all concept art, voice acting, and final assets were produced without AI assistance. Looking to the future, Broche added, 'It's pretty hard to predict what the future [of the industry] will look like, but everything will be made by humans from us.'
A Wider Industry Debate
This incident highlights the increasingly contentious debate surrounding generative AI in game development. While some studios argue it can expedite administrative tasks or early concept exploration, its use in creative processes like art and voiceovers remains highly controversial.
Sandfall Interactive is not alone in facing scrutiny. Other titles, such as The Alters, have encountered similar backlash for accidentally leaving AI-generated text in their final builds. Meanwhile, high-profile games like Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7 have been criticised for using AI to produce in-game assets.
Even statements from other industry leaders are being closely parsed. Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke recently had to clarify that his studio only uses AI to explore ideas in the concept phase, after reports claimed they were 'pushing hard' on the technology.
The key concern for many developers and players is the point at which AI use crosses from a supportive tool into the realm of core creative work. While Sandfall Interactive's use was temporary, the strong reaction from awards bodies and the community suggests the industry is still establishing its ethical boundaries.
Whether the practice of using AI for temporary placeholder assets will decline due to this kind of blowback remains uncertain. However, one thing is clear: the conversation about AI's role in creative industries is far from over, and studios are now acutely aware of the potential reputational cost of its use.
