Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been hailed by critics and players alike as one of the standout games of the year, praised for its story, art direction, and haunting soundtrack that has captivated audiences around the world. The success of a small studio creating something culturally resonant is exactly the kind of creative triumph hardworking Americans respect — art made by people, for people, not by faceless algorithms.
So it should matter greatly that the indie awards community moved to rescind major prizes from the game after discovering generative AI had been used at some point during development. When institutions that claim to defend creative integrity enforce their rules, they force a conversation about honesty and standards — and that’s a conversation worth having.
The studio’s director later admitted that the team briefly tried AI during development but insisted the final game was human-made and that AI assets were removed. That admission should stop any naive applause for “progress” that erases the work of composers, artists, and voice actors; transparency matters and creative labor must be protected from being outsourced to code.
This whole episode exposes the rot of tech-fueled shortcuts and the flimsy moral calculus of modern cultural gatekeepers who cheerlead whatever innovation aligns with their tastes until it becomes inconvenient. Conservatives should be the first to defend creators — not corporate algorithms — because defending human craftsmanship is defending American dignity and honest wages.
It’s no surprise that voices like Ben Shapiro are weighing in and highlighting the music and artistic craft in pieces like this one; when the mainstream drifts toward empty progressivism and techno-utopianism, we need commentators who celebrate real artistry and call out hypocrisy. Fans deserve to know whether the art that moved them was truly made by people or propped up by shortcuts, and public figures who demand clarity are doing a public service.
Meanwhile, the game’s recognition in respected polls and industry lists showed that genuine talent still rises when it’s given a chance, and that audiences reward heartfelt work over manufactured hype. If we want more of this, policy and market pressure should protect human creators from being undercut by unchecked AI adoption masquerading as innovation.
In short, Americans should cheer the art, hold creators accountable, and demand clear ethical lines from industry bodies and studios alike. We can admire the achievement of Clair Obscur while insisting on rules that preserve jobs, honor artists, and keep our culture human-first — because that is how a free, flourishing society endures.
