The impact of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on the video game industry continues to resonate after reaching an unprecedented milestone: with 436 awards since its launch, it has become the game with the most Game of the Year accolades since records began in 2003. This success places it above Elden Ring, which previously held the record with 435 awards, a remarkable achievement considering the fierce competition from standout titles like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong. No other game has ever won so many awards Since its arrival on the market, Clair Obscur: […]
The impact of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on the video game industry continues to resonate after reaching an unprecedented milestone: with 436 awards since its launch, it has become the game with the most Game of the Year accolades since records began in 2003. This success places it above Elden Ring, which until now held the record with 435 awards, a remarkable achievement considering the fierce competition from standout titles like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong.
No other game has ever won so many awards
Since its arrival on the market, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been acclaimed for its gameplay and immersive design, leading many in the gaming community to predict its success at the awards. The game won 9 trophies at the recent Game Awards, adding to its already impressive collection of awards and demonstrating its popularity across various platforms and communities. Resetera, a respected video game forum, has been instrumental in compiling these achievements, documenting the GOTY worldwide, which has allowed Expedition 33 to stand out from the crowd.
Despite the considerable competition in the market, this RPG from Sandfall Interactive managed to stand out in a year when other titans like The Legend of Zelda did not make their appearance, which undoubtedly favored its chances of recognition. Although the number of awards has increased over time, the quality of the game is undeniable, and it is clear that the dedication of its developers has paid off, establishing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a benchmark in the industry.
While waiting for the results of the upcoming BAFTA, it is hard to imagine that the game could achieve more significant recognition than it already has. With this new record, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 secures its place in the history of contemporary video games.
The director of Clair Obscur, Guillaume Broche, has recently acknowledged that the title Expedition 33 might be too easy for some players, especially in the final boss fight. During a conversation with Edge magazine, Broche explained that many players chose to complete side content before facing the climax of the game, which led to a combat experience that was less challenging than the team had anticipated. A game inspired by the classics, for better or worse The structure of Expedition 33 is inspired by classic RPGs from the PS2 era, such as Final Fantasy 10, […]
The director of Clair Obscur, Guillaume Broche, has recently acknowledged that the title Expedition 33 might be too easy for some players, especially in the final boss fight. During a conversation with Edge magazine, Broche explained that many players chose to complete side content before facing the climax of the game, which led to a combat experience that was less challenging than the team had anticipated.
A game inspired by the classics, also for the bad
The structure of Expedition 33 is inspired by classic RPGs from the PS2 era, such as Final Fantasy 10, where players have the freedom to either advance directly to the final boss or dedicate themselves to exploring additional content. Broche admitted that, while the intention was to allow those focused on the narrative to jump from the end of Act Two directly to the end of the game, it resulted in many players completely surpassing the recommended difficulty levels.
Since the last update, players have discovered ways to inflict extremely high damage, which has impacted the gaming experience. Some users have begun to raise their damage statistics to astronomical figures, reaching tens of billions, something that Broche considers a success in terms of game design. “If you go back and look at Final Fantasy 10, you can take downthe final boss in one hit if you’re overpowered,” Broche explained, personalizing the reflection with his own experiences in the genre.
Before the launch, the Sandfall team had modest expectations, betting that Expedition 33 would score around 80 on Metacritic. Despite the challenges in the difficulty of the final combat, Broche and his team feel satisfied with the overall results and their approach to RPGs in the gameplay formula.
The notable success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has catapulted Sandfall Interactive from a relatively unknown studio to one of the most followed in the video game industry. This sudden transformation has generated considerable pressure on the developers, who now must meet the high expectations of a growing fan base. In a recent interview, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, the lead writer of the studio, commented on the palpable pressure the team feels to please the audience, acknowledging that it is a common concern in the studio. A mistake that many studios have fallen into Despite these […]
The remarkable success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has catapulted Sandfall Interactive from a relatively unknown studio to one of the most followed in the video game industry.This sudden transformation has generated considerable pressure on the developers, who now must meet the high expectations of a growing fan base. In a recent interview, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, the lead writer of the studio, commented on the palpable pressure the team feels to please the audience, acknowledging that it is a common concern in the studio.
An error that many studies have fallen into
Despite these expectations, Sandfall Interactive is clear that it will not allow external influences to affect its creative process. Svedberg-Yen emphasized the importance of maintaining the essence of the game, pointing out that too many TV series and books have been influenced by the desire to please people and, in the process, end up losing their essence. This approach of trusting their own vision is reflected in the studio’s creative philosophy.
Guillaume Broche, co-founder of Sandfall Interactive, reinforces this stance, stating that they developed their first game without the pressure of seeking widespread approval. Broche argues that the sincerity and authenticity of their work have been key to their success, and that replicating that approach for their next project should be equally effective. If it doesn’t work, well, bad luck, he added, emphasizing that the most important thing is to do something new, but following the same principles that led them to success.
Sandfall Interactive, firm in its course, moves forward with the goal of creating experiences that resonate with its artistic vision, despite the dichotomies between its creative desires and market expectations. Meanwhile, fans of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 eagerly await what the studio will bring next.
The recent controversy surrounding the video game Expedition 33 has sparked a broad debate about the use of artificial intelligence in the video game development industry. Sandfall Interactive, the developer behind the successful JRPG, admitted to having used generative AI technology to create some temporary textures, which were removed five days after the game’s release. This decision triggered the revocation of the ‘Game of the Year’ award at the Indie Game Awards, which has generated significant reactions in the developer community. A criticism that will not sit well among fans Chris Seavor, former developer at Rare, […]
The recent controversy surrounding the video game Expedition 33 has sparked a broad debate about the use of artificial intelligence in the video game development industry. Sandfall Interactive, the developer behind the successful JRPG, admitted to having used generative AI technology to create some temporary textures, which were removed five days after the game’s release. This decision triggered the revocation of the ‘Game of the Year’ award at the Indie Game Awards, which has generated significant reactions in the developer community.
A criticism that will not sit well with fans
Chris Seavor, former developer at Rare, expressed his discontent on Bluesky, suggesting that using AI in this way shows a lack of effort on the part of developers. “Don’t be lazy and pay for your work,” emphasized Seavor, although he also admitted that the use of AI in development may be more common than one might think. For her part, independent developer PeachyAenne highlighted the importance of unity within the community when addressing these critical issues.
The controversy has also highlighted a division in the community regarding the use of AI. Daniel Vávra, writer of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, defended the implementation of AI, arguing that it can facilitate the creation of high-quality games with smaller teams, similar to the work dynamics of past eras. However, other developers, including former members of teams behind titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, criticized the lack of transparency from some companies, insisting on the need to respect the work of employees.
This debate highlights the complexity of integrating artificial intelligence into creative processes and raises questions about ethics in video game production, as the industry continues to evolve constantly.
It’s the end of the year, you have a little free time and you’re considering playing something. We know. We’ve been there. Because it’s the Steam sales, you know, and if you’re here it’s because you need to know which ones you can’t miss, the best ones. There are too many to choose from and that’s why we picked the eight that will make your eyes sparkle. The eight that, believe us, will make your end of the year perfect. Slay the Spire (€2.29 | -90%) The early access version of a game that is a candidate for GOTY 2026, Slay the Spire, will be released in March […]
It’s the end of the year, you have a little free time, and you’re thinking about playing something. We know. We’ve been there. Because it’s Steam sale time, you know, and if you’re here, it’s because you need to know which ones you can’t miss—the best ones. There are too many to choose from, and that’s why we’ve picked the eight that will make your eyes sparkle. The eight that, believe us, will make your end of the year perfect.
In March, the early access version of a candidate for GOTY 2026, Slay the Spire 2, will be released. Perhaps to celebrate this, the studio has put the original game at an absolutely ridiculous price: €2.29. You have paid for coffees that are more expensive than this game, and believe us, it will not only give you more energy than any coffee you have ever had, but it will also provide you with infinite hours in one of the best roguelikes and deckbuilders in history. At least until we see what its sequel has to offer and whether it can surpass the original.
Speaking of potentially infinite games for ridiculous prices, paying less than 3 euros for The Witcher 3 feels almost like an insult. Between 50 and 60 hours to complete just the main story, and you could go up to between 100 and 200 if you get distracted or want to do everything, this is a game from which you will get everything you want for every euro paid and then some. Because even though the Netflix series is not at its best, it is still The Witcher. Just because Netflix hasn’t known how to exploit it doesn’t mean it’s bad now.
We continue with games that you won’t finish this year or the next, and that also have a television series. Because for a ridiculous price you can get Fallout 76, the game that will shape the upcoming seasons of the Fallout series on Prime Video. What does that mean? That if you are enjoying the series and want to get ahead of what is going to happen, the perfect place to start with the games is here. And not just because it keeps evolving every day that passes.
From Software has no competition when it comes to soulslike games. No one makes them like they do, because that’s what they were created for. But Team Ninja managed to create a new branch of them, more focused on action, which has captivated a particular audience. The result is the Nioh saga, which will release its third installment in a few months, but you can now get its first installment with all its DLCs for less than 5 euros. A real bargain if you’re not intimidated by a good challenge.
Here we conclude with the offers that will make you wonder if Steam is in their right mind to include those that perhaps require a second thought, but not two. Because when it comes to challenges, Hollow Knight: Silksong is two things: one of the most anticipated and celebrated games in recent years and a game capable of energizing the most seasoned player. Absolutely fantastic in aesthetics and extremely difficult for some and simply challenging for others, it is a divisive game, but it has captivated the audience. And now it can be obtained for almost, almost, just 15 euros.
We highly recommend Red Dead Redemption 2 in these lists, but let’s be honest. It’s one of those games that is impossible not to recommend. It’s huge, it’s fun, and it captivates. It’s an absolutely fantastic game that, for just 20 euros, is an investment you don’t even have to think about if it catches your interest even slightly, whether you’re a fan of GTA or westerns. Because if you meet either of the two previous conditions, Red Dead Redemption 2 is going to enchant you.
If there is a game that seems like you have to love or hate, it is Elden Ring Nightreign. Many people have very strange attitudes towards this game, we don’t quite understand why, because we are going to be honest: we think it is a very fun game. Taking the formula of soulslikes and applying it to the logic of multiplayer games, it is an incredibly fun game with friends and sometimes brilliant with strangers. If you like soulslikes for their online component, get it right now, and if it catches your attention and you’re not sure, it’s only 30 euros. Where do 30 euros really take you in this economy?
The GOTY according to the Game Awards and most lists of the best of the year. And there must be something to it when they bless the water. With only a 20% discount and for almost 40 euros, it is the most expensive game on the list, but let’s be honest: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has probably caught your eye. It’s a different RPG, more focused on action, and everyone is in love with its narrative and its world. And now that you have a few days to dedicate your attention to it, isn’t this the perfect time to dive into a game that lasts between 20 and 30 hours?
The development of the game Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive has been a great success, selling over 5 million copies and winning a total of nine awards at The Game Awards, including the prestigious recognition of Game of the Year. However, despite this remarkable achievement, the studio leader, Guillaume Broche, has decided that they will not expand. In a recent interview, Broche explained that they prioritize creativity and the happiness of the team over business growth. I think it’s good to have limitations when you are creative, he stated, emphasizing the importance of making games that […]
The development of the game Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive has been a great success, selling over 5 million copies and winning a total of nine awards at The Game Awards, including the prestigious recognition of Game of the Year. However, despite this remarkable achievement, the studio leader, Guillaume Broche, has decided that they will not expand. In a recent interview, Broche explained that they prioritize creativity and the happiness of the team over business growth. I think it’s good to have limitations when you are creative, he stated, emphasizing the importance of making games that they themselves want to play.
They can do it, but they don’t want to
Although the landscape is playing favorably, with its success inspiring optimism about the future of independent and lower-budget games, Sandfall has faced controversies. The most notable was the revocation of its Game of the Year award at the Indie Game Awards, due to concerns surrounding artificial intelligence and the classification of the game as independent. This situation has sparked debates about the categorization of video games in the current industry.
Despite the success of Expedition 33 potentially leading the company to consider an increase in its staff and resources, Broche emphasized that they prefer to maintain a more intimate approach to video game creation. We don’t want to manage, we want to keep making games, he commented. Their philosophy focuses on adapting the game to the team rather than forcing the team to adapt to market demands. The best way to take care of people is to create something sincere, that has a strong soul and identity, Broche added.
Although Sandfall has not yet revealed details about its upcoming project, the big successes of Expedition 33 have made a mark on the industry, showing that it is possible for lower-budget games to find a place in a market dominated by expensive sequels.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the recent development by Sandfall Interactive, has become a benchmark of the JRPG genre in the Double A gaming scene. Directed by Guillaume Broche, the project is a tribute to classics from the golden age of Japanese role-playing games like Final Fantasy X, with a combat system reminiscent of the Dark Souls saga. Broche has defended the studio’s creative philosophy, which prioritizes enjoying the development process over conforming to player expectations: “It’s not about following processes, but about making a game that you want […]
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the recent development by Sandfall Interactive, has become a benchmark in the JRPG genre in the Double A gaming scene. Directed by Guillaume Broche, the project is a tribute to classics from the golden age of Japanese role-playing games like Final Fantasy X, featuring a combat system reminiscent of the Dark Souls saga. Broche has defended the studio’s creative philosophy, which prioritizes enjoying the development process over conforming to player expectations: “It’s not about following processes, but about making a game that you want to play.”
The player is not that important
Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, the lead writer of the game, highlighted the collaborative nature of the development, where art, narrative, and music influenced each other. This approach has allowed for the creation of a cohesive world that reflects the team’s passion for the work. The influence of iconic titles on character design and the combat system underscores the team’s dedication to honoring their sources of inspiration while seeking to provide a unique and engaging experience for players.
Despite its initial success, the game faces a controversy that has marked its trajectory. Clair Obscur was disqualified from the Indie Game Awards just one day after being recognized as Game of the Year and Best Debut, due to the use of AI-generated images during its development. Although these elements were removed shortly after the release, the strict policy of the competition regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence invalidates its nomination. This situation highlights the challenges developers face in an ever-evolving environment with increasingly strict regulations.
The game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by Sandfall Interactive, received the awards for Best Game of the Year and Best Debut at the Indie Game Awards, an event that celebrates the creativity of titles not backed by major studios. However, this celebration was short-lived, as the game was disqualified the next day for the use of images generated by artificial intelligence in its development, specifically as provisional elements that were not removed before the release. The debate over the use of AI returns The award organizers explained that their policy on the use of AI […]
The game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by Sandfall Interactive, received the awards for Best Game of the Year and Best Debut at the Indie Game Awards, an event that celebrates the creativity of titles not backed by major studios. However, this celebration was short-lived, as the game was disqualified the next day for the use of images generated by artificial intelligence in its development, specifically as placeholder elements that were not removed before the release.
The debate on the use of AI returns
The organizers of the awards explained that their policy on the use of generative AI was communicated during the nomination process. In a statement, they asserted that when the game was submitted for consideration, Sandfall Interactive had ensured that no AI tools were used in the development. The subsequent revelation that AI-generated images were indeed used invalidates the nomination of the title. Although these images were removed in a post-launch update, their inclusion in the final product contravenes the contest rules.
For its part, Sandfall Interactive defended its position, clarifying that they used a limited number of purchased ‘assets’ and that the AI-generated textures were briefly used before being replaced by final versions. The company admitted that a lapse during quality control allowed these provisional elements to remain in the released version.
The controversy has left the Indie Game Awards in an uncomfortable position, raising questions about the selection process and the transparency of the event. Furthermore, the scandal highlights the growing controversy in the industry regarding the use of AI tools in video game development, a topic that has been the subject of debate in recent months. With the disqualification of Expedition 33, it opens the door to questions about the legitimacy of the awards and their commitment to ethics in the use of emerging technologies.
The event The Game Awards 2025 has marked a milestone in the history of award ceremonies for the video game industry, reaching 171 million global views, which represents an 11% increase compared to the 154 million recorded in 2024. Geoff Keighley, the host and organizer, highlighted that this year has become the most viewed to date, underscoring the growing interest in the event. Even surpassing the Super Bowl The conversations about The Game Awards on platform X also showed a significant growth of 12%, indicating that the […]
The event The Game Awards 2025 has marked a milestone in the history of award ceremonies for the video game industry, reaching 171 million global views, which represents an 11% increase compared to the 154 million recorded in 2024. Geoff Keighley, the host and organizer, highlighted that this year has become the most viewed to date, underscoring the growing interest in the event.
Surpassing even the Super Bowl
Conversations about The Game Awards on platform X also showed a significant growth of 12%, indicating that the audience is becoming increasingly engaged with the event. Additionally, there were 23,000 co-streams on platforms like Twitch and YouTube, representing a 50% increase compared to the previous year. Although this year’s Super Bowl reached 127.7 million viewers, comparisons between the two events are limited due to differences in their nature and focus.
The event not only stood out for its record numbers but also for the exciting announcements made. Among the most anticipated titles, Divinity from Larian and Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic were presented, as well as a new shooter titled Highguard. During the awards night, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was crowned Game of the Year, accumulating a total of nine awards and setting a new record at The Game Awards.
Geoff Keighley has already confirmed that he will return with The Game Awards in December 2026, and that his next event, Summer Game Fest, will take place in June of the same year. The continuous growth in views and participation underscores the importance of these events in contemporary popular culture and their ability to unite the gaming community worldwide.
Last night was the Game Awards, a gala that aspires to be the Oscars of video games. And among all the announcements made, of which we have highlighted the most important of the night, they also gave out a few awards. Giving them different weight and importance, it still isn’t the Oscars, but it has become the big gala of video games. And it is also an awards show where it is easy to attend to discover what is being cooked up in the industry at all levels. Before diving into the big winners and losers of each category, it is important […]
Last night was the Game Awards, a gala that aims to be the Oscars of video games. Among all the announcements made, of which we have highlighted the most important of the night, several awards were also given. Giving them different weight and importance, it still isn’t the Oscars, but it has become the major gala of video games. And it is also an awards ceremony where it is easy to attend to discover what is being cooked in the industry at all levels.
Before diving into the big winners and losers of each category, it’s important to provide a brief summary. Knowing how many nominations each of the involved parties had is essential.
The big favorite of the night was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. With 13 nominations, the French game had a hard time not leaving as the big winner of the gala, especially when no one had received so many nominations in the history of the Games Awards. Following closely were Death Stranding 2: On The Beach and Ghost of Yotei, with 7 nominations, and Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 6 respectively. Among the surprises were Split Fiction, which only had 4 nominations, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and Silent Hill f, which only managed 3.
How did it turn out for everyone? With few surprises, to be honest. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was the biggest winner with 9 statuettes out of the 13 that could be won, leaving no room for anyone else. In that sense, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach and Ghost of Yotei are the big losers of the night, as they went home empty-handed despite all their nominations. A big disappointment for Sony.
Creators, players, and online
Among the most unique categories are those of esports and creators. Here, Counter-Strike 2 stood out particularly. Winning both the award for best esports and having a Counter-Strike 2 team, Team Vitality, win the award for best esports team, Valve has been the big winner in this category. Although there were no surprises, Jung “Chovy” Ji-hoon took home the title of best esports athlete for League of Legends after an excellent Worlds.
For his part, MoistCr1TiKaL has won the award for best content creator of the year. With tough competition from Kai Cenat, it is quite likely that being a much more likable figure in public outside of the streaming fandom itself has had an impact.
Among the awards separated from the rest of the categories, Wuthering Waves won the Players’ Voices largely due to the rewards offered by Kuro Games for players to vote for their game. In the most anticipated game category, GTAVI won, much to absolutely no one’s surprise, and for best adaptation, the second season of The Last of Us took home the big prize. Similarly, Doom: The Dark Ages achieved its only award by winning innovation in accessibility for its numerous difficulty options.
A game that has eclipsed all others
Entering the major categories, it is evident that there is a clear winner above all others. That does not take away from the fact that there have been some quite interesting awards. Mario Kart World won best sports game, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles won best strategy game, and Donkey Kong Bananza won best family game.
In the field of action-focused games, Hades 2 won best action game and Hollow Knight: Silksong won best action-adventure game. The highly questionable Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves won best fighting game, not without controversy.
As no surprise to anyone, ARC Raiders won the award for best multiplayer game. And its main competitor, Battlefield 6, won best sound design, rightly taking the award from Expedition 33. In the impact games category, the interesting South of Midnight won, and No Man’s Sky won for best support. Additionally, The Midnight Walk won best VR game and Umamusume: Pretty Derby won best mobile game, resulting in a well-distributed set of secondary awards.
But at the end of the day, there was only one big winner. A game that took it all. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won the awards for best role-playing game, best indie game, best indie debut, best soundtrack and music, best art direction, best narrative, best direction, and game of the year. Accumulating all the technical awards, except one, and all the big awards, becoming the grand prize of the year according to the Game Awards. Even if there has been some controversy over whether it should be considered an indie game or not.
With this, the Game Awards concluded, much less distributed than usual, although with great announcements and a clear winner. Something that gives us a clear perspective on the situation of the mainstream video game industry.
