The buzz around “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” reached new heights after its stunning performance at The Game Awards, capturing the attention of a notable admirer—French president Emmanuel Macron. Over the weekend, Macron took to Instagram to celebrate the game’s monumental achievement of snagging the Game of the Year award.
Historic Triumph at The Game Awards
Sandfall Interactive’s RPG “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” dominated The Game Awards 2025, seizing nine accolades, the highest number any game has ever achieved in a single event. Alongside its Game of the Year victory, the title also clinched awards for best narrative, best music, and best performance. Competitors like Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades 2, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 were left trailing as “Clair Obscur” claimed top honors. This marked a historic first for a French game at the prestigious awards ceremony.
“Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has just been named Game of the Year in Los Angeles. A historic first for a French title!” Macron expressed in French, sharing an image of characters Gustave, Maelle, and Sciel. “Great pride for Montpellier and for France. Congratulations to the Sandfall Interactive team. For future generations and those that follow!”
Macron’s Support Amid Past Controversies
This isn’t Macron’s first commendation of Sandfall Interactive; previously, when the RPG sold a million copies in just three days, he praised the team’s creative audacity. However, some commenters were quick to recall his past remarks during France’s 2023 riots, where he suggested video game violence and social media influenced youth negatively.
Macron later clarified his stance, emphasizing that video games offer opportunities for youth and economic growth in France. He expressed his concerns about video game conventions being manipulated to promote social media violence, not about the games themselves.
Acknowledging the Unsung Heroes
Amidst the applause for “Clair Obscur” at the awards ceremony, director Guillaume Broche extended gratitude to Sandfall Interactive’s dedicated team and acknowledged the “unsung heroes” of the gaming world who create instructional content on platforms like YouTube. These resources were invaluable to the team, who once found themselves learning the ropes of game development from scratch.
“Clair Obscur” launched in April, simultaneously with Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, both debuting on Game Pass. Despite stiff competition, the game quickly resonated with players, reaching 5 million sales by October.
While at the awards, Sandfall surprised fans with a shadow drop of new DLC and Patch 1.5.0, featuring new locations and formidable boss battles. Are you starting your journey with “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33”? Here’s a handy guide to get you started.
Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP via Getty Images.