Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 The developer Sandfall Interactive has promised that everything from the studio in the future will be done by humans and not AI. To say that the use of generative AI in video game development is currently a contentious topic would be an understatement. Since its entry into the mainstream a few years ago, gaming companies are regularly called out for suspect AI use, and often the allegations turn out to be true. So when they found out Clair Obscur had been released with AI assets, some fans reacted negatively.
Although the amount of AI found in the release version of the highly acclaimed RPG was apparently small, it still generated backlash among many players. The art was meant to be a placeholder only and was quickly patched out, but the actual use resulted in Clair Obscur is disqualified from the Indie Game Awards and the Best Debut and Game of the Year wins are revoked. However, it seems the developer has heard the answer loud and clear.
The most desirable game on Steam comes from the “AI-First” company, and it should raise more eyebrows
Amid ongoing generative AI controversy, it appears the most wish-listed game on Steam has been ignored while being published by an “AI-First” company.
The Clair Obscur developer will not use generative AI in the future
Recently, Expedition 33 director Guillaume Broche and art director Nicholas Maxson-Francombe sat down for a Q&A with YouTube channel Sushi. During the discussion, the topic of AI use was raised. Broche promised that, while it's hard to predict what the future might hold for the industry, at least in games of Sandfall, “everything will be done by people from us.” He went on to explain that when AI was used in the development of Expedition 33the technology was still very new and was only seen as a useful tool. “We tried it, and we didn't like it. It felt wrong.”
At least for now, like it or not, it seems that AI is here to stay and will likely become even more ubiquitous as time goes on. Recently, another beloved game company came under fire for its use of AI when Larian Studios, the developer behind multiple award-winning Baldur's Gate 3admitted during a Bloomberg interview to using the technology to create “PowerPoint presentations, develop concept art and write placeholder text.” Larian's founder Swen Vincke clarified that no generative AI assets would enter Divinitythe studio's next project, but that has only slightly lessened the backlash.
Vincke said in his interview with Bloomberg that while AI has not significantly improved team efficiency, not using it could ultimately be detrimental if competitors use it widely. Renowned developer Hideo Kojima seems to be of the same opinion. He has previously said that while he won't be using AI to create art, he sees its potential in creating deep systems that can dynamically respond to player behaviors. In fact, Kojima has said he'd like to create a game to train AI because it currently “doesn't know much.”
While both Sandfall Interactive and Larian Studios are currently dealing with the aftermath of revealing that they used AI in some aspects of creating their games, it likely won't permanently affect their success. Excitement for the future Divinity the game of Larian is incredibly loud, and Clair Obscur won a record number of categories at The Game Awards 2025, earning more wins than any other game in the event's history.
- Released
-
April 24, 2025
- ESRB
-
Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer
-
Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher
-
Kepler Interactive
Source: Bloomberg
