‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ developers knighted for services to arts, literature and culture

The developers behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have been knighted by the French Ministry Of Culture for services to arts, literature and culture.

• READ MORE: ‘MIO: Memories In Orbit’ review: ‘Hollow Knight’ meets ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’

Created by French studio Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was one of the best-reviewed games of 2025 and picked up numerous Game Of The Year trophies. A fantasy role-playing game that sees players lead a plucky group of explorers in a quest to stop the menacing Paintress, the title has been praised for its storytelling, acting and music.

Last week, 28 key staff from Sandfall Interactive received knighthoods in the Order Of Arts And Letters (Ordre des Arts et des Lettres). The award was established in 1957 and is awarded to 200 people every year.

During the ceremony, French Minister Of Culture Rachida Dati said the government wanted to celebrate “the brilliant success” of Sandfall. “By its scale, by its impact, by the support of the public as well as the critics, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has established itself as a major moment in the history of French video games,” said Dati. “At a time when the video game industry is going through a difficult period, your success restores confidence, energy and momentum to an entire sector.”

Clair-Obscur : Expédition 33 entre dans l’histoire. Par son ampleur et l’adhésion du public et de la critique, ce jeu s’impose comme un moment majeur. En décorant son équipe, la République affirme : le jeu vidéo est un art majeur et une industrie essentielle. pic.twitter.com/L0WmtxCrqS

— Rachida Dati – Ministre de la Culture (@rachidadati_mc) February 6, 2026

“Your success has acted as a catalyst: revealing the place taken by video games as a cultural practice, as an industrial issue, as a lever for influence and soft power, but above all as an art form in its own right,” she continued. “For the French video game industry, your success says something very simple and very important: video games are no longer reserved for a certain age, generation, or social class. They have found their place, naturally, in our cultural lives.”

Sharing the news on LinkedIn, Sandfall said: “We hope that our journey will inspire all those who wish to take the plunge and create their own work.”

French President Emmanuel Macron previously called Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 a “shining example of French audacity and creativity”. However, last week Macron also revealed plans for a study into the effects of “violent video games” on children (via Bloomberg). “We can love video games, be proud of them, and at the same time examine certain practices and their effects without taboo,” he explained on LinkedIn following backlash. 

In other news, the music of Assassin’s Creed is getting turned into a ‘Piano Collection’ remix album.

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