“Retro Gaming Icon Calls Out AI Controversy in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Urging Developers to Respect Creative Work”

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s developer, Sandfall Interactive, incorporated some generative AI technology in crafting their hugely popular JRPG, sparking a variety of reactions within the gaming community.

The most significant fallout came when the Indie Game Awards revoked Expedition 33’s Game of the Year title after learning, as Sandfall shared with a Spanish magazine, that generative AI was utilized to create a handful of temporary textures, which were subsequently removed within five days of the game’s release. However, some developers believe that any use of generative AI, no matter how minor, is a misstep.

Chris Seavor, a former Rare developer and voice actor, expressed his dismay over the award’s revocation on Bluesky, stating, “Oh dear………..” He further commented, “Don’t be lazy fucko’s and pay for your stuff, is the message here…..” In another post, he reflected, “Although, this is a lot more common than you’d guess…. In all honesty, I can’t even be sure I wouldn’t have used it for more finished pre-vizing (execs are fucking morons when it comes to demos) back in the day…… (although never actual assets, temporary or otherwise.. that really is lazy).”

Indie developer and streamer PeachyAenne also weighed in on Bluesky, saying, “Love to see a community come together on important issues and stand by them.” Yet, the gaming community—both indie and mainstream—remains divided on the appropriate use of AI. Just last week, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 writer Daniel Vávra acknowledged, “If AI can help me make an epic game in a year with a smaller team like in the old days, I’m all for it.”

“Show your employees some respect”: Former developers from Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity allege that Larian leadership is “lying about people being okay” with the use of AI.