The French video game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 became the star of the Los Angeles Game Awards on Thursday by breaking a historic record: it won nine awards in a single edition, including video game of the year. The milestone makes it the most awarded title in the history of the event, considered the equivalent of the Oscars in the video game industry.
The gala was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and confirmed what had already been noted since its launch in April: the first project of the French studio Sandfall Interactive had transcended the label of revelation to become a global phenomenon. Its victory over competitors of enormous media and industrial weight, consolidating a success that combines critical recognition, cultural impact and commercial results.
Nine awards and an unprecedented record
In addition to the award for
On stage, the game’s director, Guillaume Broche, summed up the impact of the recognition with a phrase that reflected the team’s moment: “You have changed our lives and that of our studio, and it’s really wonderful. His words served to put a human face on a success built from a structure much smaller than that of its rivals.
A French debut that challenges the giants
The title was nominated in a record number of categories and competed directly with major industry productions, such as Death Stranding 2 by Japanese creator Hideo Kojima or Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Bananza. Despite this, Sandfall Interactive’s proposal managed to prevail thanks to a very defined artistic identity and a narrative that connected with both the jury and the audience.
The triumph is especially significant as it is the first videogame developed by the studio. Sandfall Interactive tackled the project with a team of around thirty people, a modest number when compared to the hundreds of professionals who usually participate in the sector’s major releases.
An aesthetic marked by French culture
One of the most talked about elements of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is its strong cultural identity. The videogame presents scenarios inspired by the Paris of the
Even the smallest details reinforce this cultural homage: the game includes an additional costume for the characters that combines a red beret, striped shirt and a “baguette” of bread, an image that has been widely shared by players and has become one of the most recognizable symbols of the title.
A commercial success that accompanied the recognition
Beyond the awards, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has demonstrated enormous strength in the market. Since its launch in April, the game has sold more than five million copies, a figure that places it among the biggest surprise hits of the year.
This commercial performance reinforces the idea that the recognition at the Game Awards was not an isolated phenomenon, but the culmination of an upward trajectory sustained by the support of gamers. The combination of solid sales and prestigious awards has made the title an immediate benchmark within the genre.
The context of increasingly influential awards
The Game Awards have been held since 2014 and are organized and hosted by former Canadian journalist Geoff Keighley. Over the past decade, the event has established itself as the most influential event on the video game calendar, both for its trend-setting ability and its media reach.
The voting system combines the opinion of a jury made up of nearly a hundred specialized media and influencers, who represent around 90% of the weight of the final decision, with the public vote, which contributes the remaining 10%. This model seeks to balance professional criteria with the response of the gaming community.
A global and multiplatform gala
This year’s ceremony was streamed live on YouTube and Twitch, as well as broadcast on social media. As a novelty, it could also be followed for the first time on Amazon Prime Video, further expanding its international reach.
In this global context, the triumph of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not only a recognition of a specific videogame, but also a sign of the growing weight of European productions in an increasingly diverse and competitive industry.
A turning point for the French industry
The impact of this success goes beyond Sandfall Interactive. France, with a long cultural tradition but less historical presence in the major video game awards, finds in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 an example of how an emerging studio can compete at the highest level.
The night in Los Angeles made it clear that the global video game map is changing. And in this new scenario, the debut of Sandfall Interactive already occupies a prominent place, becoming a reference for future developments and a symbol of a historic moment for European creation.
