Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director reveals AI was experimented with during development but ultimately decided on a fully human-crafted experience.

After a standout year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is wrapping up on a slightly disappointing note, as it has come to light that Sandfall Entertainment incorporated some generative AI during the development of this expansive RPG. Director Guillaume Brioche has since clarified the extent of this technology’s use.

“Everything in the game is human-made,” he stated in an interview. “When AI first emerged in 2022, we had already begun work on the game. It was just another tool we experimented with, but we found it didn’t fit our vision at all. Initially, we used it as a placeholder for missing textures, but we removed it as soon as we realized it wasn’t right for us.”

Brioche emphasized that “everything is human-made,” specifically highlighting the concept art and voice acting, which are often areas where AI is considered for smaller tasks. He also made it clear that Sandfall will not be utilizing such tools in future projects.

“It’s tough to predict what the future holds,” he remarked, “but everything will be crafted by our team of humans.”

These statements come in light of the revelation about AI’s role in Sandfall’s development, which has slightly overshadowed the team’s achievements. Two awards, including Game of the Year from the Indie Game Awards, were rescinded due to the awarding body’s strict no-AI policies, and the news of any generative tech being used was met with disappointment.

Some skepticism stems from the fact that several major titles this year, including both Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, have faced criticism for allegedly using AI-generated assets. For now, these tools seem to be more of a source of negative feedback than anything else.

After advocating for Arc Raiders to take the GOTY title over Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, former FPS pro Shroud admitted that the J’RPG is actually quite impressive after finally giving it a try.