The French video game industry is experiencing a surge in international recognition as the Game Awards approach on December 11th in Los Angeles. Leading the charge with a record-breaking 12 nominations is Montpellier-based studio Sandfall Interactive’s debut title, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Often hailed as the “Oscars of video games,” the awards honor the year’s most innovative and impactful titles, and this year, French developers are poised for a significant showing.
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The French game “Clair Obscur” is leading the nominations for the video game Oscars.
The French gaming industry is poised for recognition at the upcoming Game Awards. With a record-breaking 12 nominations, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the frontrunner as the ceremony approaches on December 11th in Los Angeles. Often described as the video game equivalent of the Oscars, the event celebrates the year’s best titles.
The surprise hit of 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, is competing for the coveted “Game of the Year” award. The game faces stiff competition from major releases like Death Stranding 2 and Donkey Kong Bananza, as well as popular indie titles including Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong. No French-developed game has ever won the top prize.
“We are honored to be alongside such incredible games,” Sandfall Interactive, the Montpellier-based studio behind the game, shared in an Instagram story. Creative Director and co-founder Guillaume Broche told AFP he is “looking forward to going to Los Angeles next month to celebrate this special moment with our peers, developers and artists.”
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French studio SandFall Interactive celebrated the nomination of its game “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” at the Game Awards.
The debut title from the Montpellier studio, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has sold over 5 million copies since its release in April. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the game follows the tragic adventures of a group of characters challenging a supernatural entity threatening the city of Lumière, inspired by Paris. The game’s success underscores the growing global appeal of French game development.
Other French Games and Studios Receive Nominations
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is also nominated in the categories of “Best Independent Game,” “Best Debut Game,” “Best Original Score,” “Best Art Direction,” and “Best Role-Playing Game.” British actors Ben Starr, Charlie Cox, and Jennifer English, who provide voice acting for characters in the game, are also nominated in the “Best Performance” category.
French studio Sloclap’s football game, Rematch, is nominated for “Best Sports Game,” while French musician Woodkid is nominated for “Best Original Score” for his work on Death Stranding 2.
French giant Ubisoft has received two nominations: “Best Adaptation” for its animated series Splinter Cell: Deathwatch and “Best Innovation in Accessibility” for its blockbuster Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Don’t Nod, another French studio, received a nomination for Lost Records: Bloom and Rage in the “Games for Impact” category, which recognizes games with a strong social message.
Hosted by Canadian presenter Geoff Keighley, the Game Awards annually recognizes outstanding achievements in video game development. Games are selected by a jury of approximately 100 media representatives and through public voting.
