Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has achieved a stunning, record-breaking victory for a French production, dominating The Game Awards 2025 by winning nine out of its 12 nominations, including the top prize, Game of the Year.
Following the historic sweep on December 11, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, took to social media to congratulate developer Sandfall Interactive, calling the win "a historic first" and "a great pride for Montpellier and for France".
The Sincerity Question
While many joined in the celebration of national pride, the President's message immediately drew criticism from some users who questioned the sincerity of his newfound admiration for the gaming industry.
Critics quickly resurfaced a controversial press conference from July 2023, where President Macron made remarks that linked real-world violence to video games during comments about the riots following the death of Nahel Merzouk.
"It sometimes feels like some of them are experiencing, on the streets, the video games that have intoxicated them," Macron said at the 2023 press conference.
Although Macron later clarified and apologized for the comments in September 2023, stating that he was only criticizing the "gamification of violence" and affirmed that "Video games are a culture, an entertainment, a spectacle," the damage was done for many.
Now, with the immense critical and commercial success of a major French-made game (created by a small studio on a budget of less than $10 million), some social media users are accusing the President of attempting to score political points by capitalizing on the industry's success after previously criticizing the medium.
A Historic Achievement
Despite the political controversy, Sandfall's win is undeniably a landmark moment. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won roughly 30% of all TGA 2025 awards, missing out only on Best Audio Design (which went to Battlefield 6).
The game's wins included:
Game of the Year
Best Game Direction
Best Narrative
Best Independent Game
Best Art Direction
Best RPG
The success underscores the fact that the French gaming industry is a major creative force, whether politicians consistently acknowledge it or not.
Do you think President Macron's congratulations were a sincere expression of national pride, or a politically motivated move?
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