Clair Obscur: Expedition 33s Struggle with AI – Why Developers Rejected the Tool

The creative director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Guillaume Broche, revealed that Sandfall Interactive did explore the use of generative AI during the game’s development but quickly abandoned the concept. According to him, the final version of the project contains no elements that were not created by human hands.

In an interview with the creator of the YouTube channel Sushi, Broche explained that this experiment occurred during the initial surge of AI interest in 2022, while the RPG was already in full development. The team considered the technology merely as another tool; however, their experiences were disappointing. AI-generated assets were used only temporarily to fill in missing textures, after which they were completely removed from the game.

The project lead emphasized that every essential component of the game—ranging from concept art to voice acting—was crafted by individuals. This aspect often raises questions among gamers, but Sandfall insists that no automated solutions were involved in the process. Furthermore, the studio has no plans to revisit such tools in the future.

Broche’s statement came amid controversy surrounding Expedition 33. Following the revelation of the AI experiment, the organizers of the Indie Game Awards rescinded two accolades from the project, including the «Game of the Year» award, due to a strict policy against the use of such technologies.