Expedition 33 Actor Highlights Oversight in Game Awards Best Performance Recognition

The actor behind the motion capture for Gustave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has shared his thoughts on the need for a Best Character category at awards shows. Maxence Cazorla believes this would better recognize all the talents involved in bringing a character to life, especially in light of only voice actor Charlie Cox receiving a nomination for Best Performance at The Game Awards for his role as Gustave. Cox himself acknowledged Cazorla’s contributions, which Cazorla appreciated, calling it a “kind” gesture. Ultimately, Cox did not win the award; that honor went to Jennifer English for her portrayal of Maelle in Expedition 33.

Cazorla expressed to an outlet that a “Best Character category feels more logical” than focusing solely on one performer, which can overshadow others’ contributions. It’s unclear if this idea is on the radar of Geoff Keighley, the host and organizer of The Game Awards, for next year. Cazorla felt honored by Cox’s public acknowledgment of his work, stating, “I was deeply moved by his humility and generosity.” He emphasized that Gustave is a product of both his motion capture and Cox’s voice work, along with the “incredible writing and development” that shaped the character.

While Cazorla supports the idea of a Best Character award, he is more hesitant about a separate category for best performance capture. He noted the complexity of game development, where characters often emerge from collaborative efforts between multiple actors. He highlighted that other key characters in Expedition 33, like Maelle, Lune, and Verso, were also created through teamwork. Cazorla pointed out that some games feature a single actor handling full performance capture, while others involve a mix of stunt performers, motion-capture actors, and voice actors contributing to the same character. Given this diversity, he believes the most equitable way to honor performers is through an award that celebrates the character itself. He referenced the DICE Awards as already adopting this approach, which he considers “very intelligent.” For instance, the character Indiana Jones from Indiana Jones and the Great Circle won a recent DICE Award, performed by Troy Baker, who provided both voice and motion capture.

In other news, Expedition 33 recently faced a setback when The Indie Game Awards rescinded its Game of the Year title due to concerns over AI, although GameSpot recognized it as their Game of the Year.