French President Emmanuel Macron has praised Sandfall Interactive for their game, *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, after it achieved the remarkable feat of winning nine awards at The Game Awards, including Game of the Year. He shared his excitement on Instagram, highlighting the game as a significant achievement for France.
“This is a historic first for a French title!” he wrote. “Great pride for Montpellier and for France. Congratulations to the Sandfall Interactive team!”
However, not all comments were positive. Some users reminded the President of his earlier remarks from 2023, when he suggested that video games had “poisoned” young minds during civil unrest. He quickly clarified that his concerns were about the misuse of video game culture, not the games themselves. “Video games are a culture, an entertainment, a spectacle!” he explained. “They mix all the arts and explore new emotional landscapes.”
*Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* not only won Game of the Year but also took home awards for best narrative, best music, best art direction, and more. Jennifer English’s standout performance as Maelle was recognized with the best performance award.
This recognition comes at a time when the gaming industry is booming. A recent report from the Entertainment Software Association shows that over 227 million gamers live in the U.S. alone, a number that continues to grow, emphasizing the cultural significance of gaming today.
In wider awards context, while *Clair Obscur* dominated the evening, other notable winners included *Hades 2*, which won best action game, and *Hollow Knight: Silksong*, awarded best action-adventure. These outcomes underscore the variety and creativity present in the current gaming landscape.
