French Revolution: The Video Game Edition
In a spectacular twist of fate worthy of its own blockbuster movie, French President Emmanuel Macron has extended a heartfelt (and probably overly enthusiastic) congratulatory shout-out to the brave souls at Sandfall Interactive. This week, their brainchild, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, turned The Game Awards into its very own personal trophy room, racking up a jaw-dropping nine shiny awards.
Now, let’s pause for a second to appreciate the sheer audacity of Sandfall, located in the oh-so-charming Montpellier. This bunch didn’t just show up to the party—they crashed it with style! With a record-setting 13 nominations, they promptly grabbed hold of the accolade for most wins. How’s that for first-time indie developers making an entrance?
The Golden Shower of Awards
The pièce de résistance: Clair Obscur snagged the coveted title of Game of the Year. It didn’t stop there, either; it also strutted away with awards for Best Indie Game, Best Debut Indie Game (because, why not?), Best Art Direction, Best Score, Best RPG, Best Narrative, Best Game Direction, and Best Performance (shout-out to Jennifer English, who presumably had a fabulous hair day).
However, let’s keep it real. In the spirit of fairness, there were a couple of categories that proved to be a bit of a buzzkill. Best Audio Design went to the ever-popular Battlefield 6—not surprising, given the explosive sounds of warfare that surely trumpeted its way to victory. And the ever-elusive Players’ Voice award, a coveted prize given out by the people, ended up in the hands of Wuthering Waves. Cheers to the waves, indeed!
Emmanuel Macron: France’s Number One Fan
While the dust settles on this historic win, Macron took to Instagram (surely while sipping a fine French wine) to proclaim, “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has just been named Game of the Year in Los Angeles. A historic first for a French title! Such pride for Montpellier and all of France! Bravo to Sandfall Interactive. For future generations and those who dare to dream!”
A Million Copies and Counting
This isn’t Macron’s first rodeo with Clair Obscur. Earlier in the year, he felt it was necessary to shower the development team with compliments over the game’s impressive sales figures. “One million copies sold and currently one of the highest-rated games in history, and yes, it’s French,” he shared. Careful not to understate his pride, he then lauded Sandfall Interactive as the epitome of French creativity and audacity. Bravo, indeed!
The Heartfelt Thank You
Reacting to this monumental night, Sandfall Interactive might have had a few happy tears in their eyes as they thanked their players. They mentioned it was a night that “changed our lives.” This humble expression of gratitude gave a nod to everyone who contributed to bringing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to life. Talk about a warm fuzzy moment that could make even the grumpiest cat smile.
So, after a thunderous night filled with awards, tears of joy, and a sprinkle of French pride, it’s safe to say that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has not just made a splash—it has done a cannonball into the gaming pool and created quite the wave.
