Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director explains decision to avoid AI use in future projects

Director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has addressed AI concerns after awards were withdrawn over its use

The director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has explained why the development team will not use artificial intelligence in future projects, following controversy surrounding the game’s brief use of AI-generated assets.

The title received significant recognition during awards season, including wins at The Game Awards and other industry ceremonies. However, its Best Debut Game and Game of the Year awards at the Indie Game Awards were later withdrawn after the organisers confirmed a strict policy against the use of generative AI.

Speaking during a developer Q&A with YouTuber Sushi, director Guillaume Brioche addressed the situation and explained the studio’s position. He said the team initially experimented with AI in 2022, when development on the game was already underway.

“When AI first came out in 2022, we’d already started on the game. It was just a new tool, we tried it, and we didn’t like it at all; it felt wrong,” he said.

Brioche explained that AI had only been used temporarily as a placeholder for missing textures. These included poster assets that were later identified by players due to visual inconsistencies often associated with generative AI, such as distorted lettering.

He confirmed that the assets were removed within five days after being identified and stated they had been missed during the quality assurance process.

The director added that the inclusion was never intended for the final release and that the team acted quickly once the issue was discovered. He also addressed future development plans, stating that AI would not be part of the studio’s creative workflow going forward.

“Everything is human-made,” Brioche said. He added that while it is difficult to predict how technology will evolve, the studio intends to ensure all future content is created by people rather than generated by tools.

The comments come amid wider debate within the games industry over the use of AI, with developers and players continuing to discuss its role in production, ethics, and creative integrity.