Juego del año - Softonic English

The next game from the studio behind Expedition 33 will not be bigger

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.

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Expedition 33 is disqualified from the Indie Games Awards for AI-generated images

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 Game Awards become the most watched event in history

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 […]

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.

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The CEO of Roblox wants to introduce prediction markets within the game

The CEO of Roblox, Dave Baszucki, has expressed his interest in integrating prediction markets within the popular gaming platform, although he acknowledges that there are significant regulatory hurdles. During a recent interview with The New York Times, Baszucki mentioned that each country has its own legislation regarding “loot boxes” and gambling aimed at children, which complicates the implementation of this innovative idea. Like betting houses, but with another name, prediction markets function as platforms where users can buy and sell contracts related to various events, from sports to movie awards. These […]

Like betting houses, but with another name

Prediction markets function as platforms where users can buy and sell contracts related to various events, from sports to film awards. These platforms, such as Polymarket and Kalshi, operate differently from traditional betting houses as there is no “house” setting the odds. In the United States, these markets are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which has granted approvals to Polymarket and Kalshi, the latter even reaching a recent agreement with CNN to include its markets in the channel’s programming.

Despite concerns about the safety and morality of prediction markets, especially regarding child audiences, Baszucki defends the idea and emphasizes its potential as an educational tool if implemented ethically and legally. In this sense, he proposed a concept like “Dress to Impress Predictor” which, in his opinion, could be appealing without trying to take children’s money through betting.

Currently, Kalshi has distinct prediction markets, such as the “Game of the Year” at The Game Awards, where over $2.3 million has changed hands, favoring Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as the top choice. However, public opinion on the safety of these markets remains divided, and many observers express skepticism about the possibility of integrating them into an environment like Roblox, which has a large base of young users.

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The developer of Balatro makes it clear: this puzzle game is the GOTY

Blue Prince, the new title from Dogubomb, has caught attention for its impressive reception, achieving a 92% rating on Metacritic and being named one of the best puzzle games in recent years by the prestigious magazine PC Gamer. This acclaim has sparked interest among the developer community, particularly from LocalThunk, the creator of Balatro, who has urged Geoff Keighley from The Game Awards to consider Blue Prince for a Game of the Year nomination in 2025. LocalThunk, excited about the game, used the Bluesky platform to express that “Blue Prince […]

Blue Prince, the new title from Dogubomb, has caught attention for its impressive reception, achieving a 92% rating on Metacritic and being named one of the best puzzle games in recent years by the prestigious magazine PC Gamer. This acclaim has sparked interest among the developer community, particularly from LocalThunk, the creator of Balatro, who has urged Geoff Keighley from The Game Awards to consider Blue Prince for a Game of the Year nomination in 2025.

LocalThunk, excited about the game, used the Bluesky platform to express that “Blue Prince will receive a GOTY nomination at TGA”. In support of his claim, the developer shared screenshots from Metacritic, where the game currently holds the highest rating among 2025 releases, surpassing Split Fiction by one point. However, since Keighley does not use Bluesky much, LocalThunk turned to Twitter to make his request more firmly, highlighting the fact that this is the studio’s first commercial release.

LocalThunk may not be wrong in that it gets at least one nomination

In response, Keighley expressed interest by mentioning that he has been following the game’s development. In turn, Dogubomb thanked LocalThunk for their support, reflecting a camaraderie atmosphere among independent developers. Although Blue Prince has not been released yet, it is scheduled to be available on Steam on April 10 at 7 am PT/10 am ET, which has generated even more excitement among players.

With the backing of a prominent figure in the industry like LocalThunk, the possibility of Blue Prince receiving a Game of the Year nomination seems promising. While nothing can be guaranteed, the support and virality of the game on social media could work in its favor at an event where independent successes also find their place.

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Heaven Burns Red is the perfect mobile game if you want to experience an exciting story… and cry a lot

The mobile platform is not known for its narrative games. That doesn’t mean it can’t be. It has the same potential as any other, if a way to monetize it properly can be found. The key here is how to make money from the efforts required to achieve it. Something that Wright Flyer Studios and Key seem to have accomplished through a gacha that has captivated millions of players in Japan. And now it is coming to the rest of the world. A game preceded by tremendous success in Japan, released in 2022 in Japan, Heaven Burns […]

The mobile is not a platform known for its narrative games. That doesn’t mean it can’t be. It has the same potential as any other, if the right way to monetize it can be found. The key here is how to make money from the efforts required to achieve it. Something that seems to have been achieved by Wright Flyer Studios and Key through a gacha that has captivated millions of players in Japan. And now it is coming to the rest of the world.

A game preceded by tremendous success in Japan

Published in 2022 in Japan, Heaven Burns Red was acclaimed in the country and swept the Google Play awards that year. Winning the Best Game of 2022, the Users’ Choice Award, and the Best Story Award, it was the most awarded game of its year. And not without reason.

Heaven Burns Red is the story of a group of girls who must save humanity from complete annihilation. Not without paying a high price along the way. With beautiful art, highly detailed settings, and a story written by the renowned screenwriter and composer Jun Maeda, known for his dramatic stories, the game perfectly combines humor with drama, which fits perfectly with its excellent and very addictive combat.

Additionally, the game now comes with multiple rewards during its launch period. Those who complete the main scenario and board missions can obtain 20,000 quartz units, 5 special recruitment tickets for the main scenario of 10 draws, 3 SS Memories, and several other rewards. Furthermore, from November 15 to December 5, players who log into the game will receive a daily character draw. This makes it very easy to progress in the game and obtain your favorite character in the process.

If you like games with captivating stories, exquisite art, and a great combat system, Heaven Burns Red is your game. And it is already available on iOS in the App Store, on Android on Google Play, and on PC on its website.

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Heaven Burns Red, developed by Shanghai Hode Information Technology Co.Ltd., is a free iPhone game that brings together the creative minds of Key and Wright Flyer Studios. The game, crafted by Jun Maeda, known for works like AIR, CLANNAD, and Angel Beats!, offers players a deeply emotional narrative experience spanning joy and sorrow.