Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33 last week it won another Game of the Year award from the Indie Game Awards, but the organization has since announced that the award will be retired because developer Sandfall Interactive used generative artificial intelligence in creating the game. The Indie Game Awards also invalidated the award for the debut game Expedition 33.
Here’s the Indie Game Awards explanation: from frequently asked questions: :
The organizers of the Indie Game Awards are taking a tough stance on the utilize of Gen.’s artificial intelligence during the nomination process and the ceremony itself. When brought forward for review, a representative from Sandfall Interactive agreed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 did not utilize this generation of AI in the development of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In lithe of the re-revealed interview with Sandfall Interactive confirming the use of AI gen graphics in a production that was brought to our attention on the launch day of the Indie Game Awards 2025, this disqualifies Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from nominations. While the assets in question have been corrected and it is a great game that is against the rules.
The Indie Game Awards criteria described in this FAQ states that “Games created using generative artificial intelligence are not eligible for nomination.” Sandfall Interactive did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Instead, the Game of the Year award goes to a puzzle game Blue Prince. Raw Fury publisher said on Sunday that “no artificial intelligence was used in Blue Prince” and that the game “was built and created using full human instinct” by Tonda Ros and the Dogubomb team.
“As next-generation artificial intelligence becomes more common in our industry, we will become better equipped to address it,” the Indie Game Awards said in a statement.
Indie Game Awards is also withdrawing the Indie Vanguard award from Gortyn Code, the studio that created the Game Boy-inspired game Chantey. The game is sold on a physical cartridge by Palmer Luckey’s ModRetro, which makes the Chromatic Game Boy. Luckey also founded defense contractor Anduril, and Chromatic recently announced that Anduril’s Chromatic is made from “the same magnesium-aluminum alloy as Anduril attack drones.”
“The IGA Nominating Committee unfortunately learned of the nature and rules of ModRetro the day after its 2025 launch along with news of their upcoming handheld console,” the Indie Game Awards said. Due to Chantey ties to ModRetro: “India Vanguard has also been withdrawn because we do not want to give the company a platform.” The organization also claims that “the decision does not reflect the Gortyn Code, but solely ModRetro.”