France's Clair Obscur Nabs 8/9 GDCA Nods—Only Missing Social Impact, But That's 'a Bit of Pressure'

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominated the Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) with eight of nine nominations—including Best Audio, Design, Innovation, and Game of Year—while missing only the Social Impact category.

The French studio Sandfall Interactive now faces pressure for their next project, as quoted verbatim in developer circles.

Justin Wagner’s review noted a tension in gameplay: “the real-time half and the turn-based half feel at odds.” Meanwhile, President Macron’s public praise for the game added unexpected political weight to its success. Competing titles Ghost of Yōtei (5 awards) and Blue Prince (4 awards) trailed behind, though neither matched Sandfall’s sweep.

The studio previously bested Baldur’s Gate 3 at The Game Awards and now holds the record for most Game Awards wins (9).

Maxence Cazorla’s motion capture work earned acclaim from Charlie Cox, who called it “some of the most human voice acting I’ve ever heard.”

GDCA voting, conducted exclusively by developers, underscores the industry’s confidence in Sandfall’s technical and narrative achievements.

The absence of a Social Impact nod, however, remains a quiet narrative contrast to the game’s otherwise sweeping dominance.