The gaming community’s ongoing debate over generative AI has taken a fresh turn as past statements about AI usage in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have resurfaced following intense backlash against Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian Studios.
The controversy reignited on Dec. 16, 2025, after a Bloomberg report revealed that Larian had been using generative AI tools for prototyping tasks and exploration. The disclosure sparked immediate criticism from fans and even former employees, despite Larian CEO Swen Vincke’s assurances that no AI-generated content would appear in finished games, and that the studio was actively hiring more artists rather than replacing them.
A firm “no” to AI or “some AI, but not much”
In response to the Larian controversy, journalist Gene Park highlighted what appeared to be a double standard in how the industry treats AI disclosures. In a July 2025 interview with El País, producer François Meurisse acknowledged that the team used generative AI during development—a comment that largely passed through the community without significant backlash at the time.
“We use some AI, but not much.” — François Meurisse via El País
The resurfaced July admission took on new significance when placed alongside conflicting statements from Sandfall Interactive’s leadership. On Dec. 4, 2025—just days before the game’s success at the Game Awards—game director Guillaume Broche took a markedly different stance in an interview with GamePressure. When asked about the use of “creative” AI in video games, the director took a firm stance against the technology.
“I think we agree that when it comes to anything creative, our answer is essentially: ‘no.’ […] Nothing in the game will come from AI, we state this clearly, it’s a firm ‘no’ for us.” — Guillaume Broche via GamePressure
This apparent contradiction has fueled accusations of inconsistency and lack of transparency. Community members on platforms like Reddit have pointed to alleged AI-generated textures and poster assets that reportedly appeared in early releases of the game, with some claiming these placeholder materials were allegedly removed through later patches.
The renewed scrutiny highlights how community tolerance for AI usage can often depend on transparency and timing of disclosure. Larian faced fierce criticism despite being relatively open about using AI only for early-stage prototyping. Meanwhile, Clair Obscur received widespread acclaim for its high quality despite a shoestring budget, before its AI usage became widely known.
Clair Obscur won an incredible number of categories at this year’s Game Awards, with the inevitability of that outcome leading to Hollow Knight Silksong developers deciding to skip the event entirely.
That a game that used AI could achieve such recognition, followed closely by Larian’s admission, suggests AI usage in game development has become common enough that studios are beginning to discuss it openly—whether they’re prepared for the scrutiny or not.
