Clair Obscur GOTY: when ‘too French’ becomes a controversy

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 made history at the 2025 Game Awards by winning Game of the Year (GOTY), but this victory sparked a major controversy on social media, particularly on Twitter. In this video, Le Grand Malandrin offers a nuanced and well-researched analysis of the backlash surrounding Clair Obscur, especially the accusations that the game is “too French.” On Twitter, the hashtag #GwerObscur spread, mixing mockery, cultural criticism, and identity-based rejection. This video deciphers this phenomenon and revisits this shameful controversy: 👉 Is it simply artistic criticism? 👉 A rejection of French cultural identity in video games? 👉 Or a broader symptom of gamer nationalism and the polarization of online communities? 🎮 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and its Identity Developed by the French studio Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur boasts a European aesthetic, Belle Époque inspiration, a unique art direction, and a narrative that departs from American AAA or Japanese JRPG standards. Is this strong identity the reason for its success… or its rejection? This controversy is shameful. A game recognized for its art direction, its boldness, and its collaborative work is now being held hostage by sterile debates about its cultural identity. Criticizing a game is healthy. Reducing it to “too French” is not. #ClairObscur #ClairObscurExpedition33 #GameAwards2025 #GOTY