French indie dominates Game Awards

From a tiny French indie studio toppling global gaming giants in Los Angeles to an American blockbuster franchise recalibrating its release strategy, the video game industry this week offered a vivid study in contrasts, ambition and the changing economics of modern play.

At the annual Game Awards, French title 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' emerged as the night's overwhelming winner, sweeping a record nine categories, including the industry's most coveted honour, best video game of the year, and eclipsing far larger, better-funded rivals.

"What a weird timeline for us," said Guillaume Broche of Sandfall Interactive, accepting the top prize with visible disbelief, before thanking his team and the wider online developer community that helped shape a game created largely through self-taught experimentation.

Broche reserved special praise for what he called the industry's "unsung heroes", the YouTube tutorial creators whose freely shared knowledge filled critical gaps for a studio that, by his own admission, had little formal experience making a full-scale game.

'Clair Obscur', the first release from Sandfall Interactive, is set in a post-apocalyptic universe rendered through a distinctly French visual lens, blending melancholic beauty with an atmosphere of quiet defiance against seemingly impossible odds.

The game entered the awards ceremony with a record number of nominations and still triumphed despite stiff competition from heavyweight releases, including Hideo Kojima's much-hyped 'Death Stranding 2' and Nintendo's family-friendly 'Donkey Kong Bananza'.

The project began modestly in 2020 as a side venture by Broche, then a developer at French games giant Ubisoft, before he joined forces with former colleague Tom Guillermin to establish Sandfall Interactive in Montpellier.

A key turning point came in 2022 when the studio secured a publishing and funding deal with UK-based Kepler, providing the financial stability needed to complete what would become one of the year's most talked-about releases.

Since launching in April, some five million copies of 'Clair Obscur' have been sold worldwide, a remarkable figure for a debut title from a team that numbered just 30 people for most of its development cycle.

"This was supposed to be a joke; I have no idea what's happening," Broche joked during one acceptance speech, before offering a simple but heartfelt message: "Just a massive 'thank you' to the players."

That gratitude appears mutual. The game's grassroots popularity has been reflected in fans attending conventions dressed in striped mariner shirts and red berets, a knowingly playful nod to one of the most stereotypically French costume options available in-game.

Narratively, the action role-playing game follows a small band of characters seeking to defeat a powerful entity threatening their home city, Lumiere, a setting whose architecture and mood strongly evoke Belle Epoque Paris.

Drawing inspiration from Japanese role-playing classics such as the long-running 'Final Fantasy' series, the game employs turn-based combat while introducing reactive, rhythm-based mechanics that reward precise timing and heightened player engagement.

Industry observers have pointed to the title's emotional depth, memorable characters and distinctive mechanics as key factors behind its success, particularly in a market often dominated by formula-driven blockbuster releases.

"Sandfall managed to present something really polished and go toe-to-toe with major titles," industry specialist Benoit Reinier told AFP earlier this year, underscoring the studio's ability to compete far above its weight.

Music also played an outsized role in immersing players, with the soundtrack lingering long after gameplay sessions ended, a contribution recognised by awards for narrative, role-playing and original music score. The game's impact has reached beyond industry circles. In May, French President Emmanuel Macron publicly praised the team for "putting the spotlight on French-style boldness and creativity", cementing its status as a cultural export.

Plans are already under discussion to adapt the 'Expedition 33' story for the big screen, reflecting a growing trend of successful games crossing into film and television as studios seek to extend popular intellectual property.

While 'Clair Obscur' symbolised indie ingenuity, a very different story unfolded around one of gaming's most dominant franchises, as American publisher Activision announced a strategic shift ahead of the launch of 'Call of Duty: Black Ops 7'.

The company confirmed that the upcoming title will offer a free trial next week, allowing players early access to multiplayer and Zombies modes before the game's official release, a move aimed at reigniting fan enthusiasm.

Developers have described 'Black Ops 7' as a spiritual successor to 'Black Ops 2', signalling a deliberate return to gameplay elements that resonated strongly with long-time fans of the series when it debuted in 2012.

As one modest French studio celebrates creative risk paying off, and a global juggernaut rethinks how often it feeds its audience, the week underscored a simple truth: in gaming, scale no longer guarantees supremacy, but imagination still sells.