French President Emmanuel Macron took to Instagram on December 12, 2025 to congratulate Montpellier-based Sandfall Interactive after Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 swept The Game Awards with a historic nine wins including Game of the Year. This marks the second time in 2025 that Macron publicly recognized the French RPG’s success, having previously praised the team in May when the game sold its first million copies. While many see this as positive recognition of gaming as legitimate culture, others point to the hypocrisy given Macron’s 2023 remarks blaming video games for poisoning youth during France’s riots.
The Game Awards Sweep
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominated The Game Awards 2025 on December 11 in Los Angeles, winning nine categories out of its 10 nominations. The French turn-based RPG took home Game of the Year, Best Narrative, Best Score and Music, Best Art Direction, Best Game Direction, Best RPG, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, and Best Performance for Jennifer English’s portrayal of Maelle. The nine wins shattered the previous record, making it the most awarded game in The Game Awards’ history.
This achievement is particularly remarkable considering Clair Obscur came from Sandfall Interactive, a first-time indie studio formed by developers who previously worked at Ubisoft. The game launched in April 2025 with a relatively modest budget compared to AAA productions, yet it competed against and defeated established franchises and major studio releases. IGN community polling even placed it as the number one game of 2025 so far with 82.4% approval from over 54,000 votes.
France24 called the win significant not just for Sandfall but for the French gaming industry overall, demonstrating that France can produce world-class games outside of Ubisoft’s massive franchises like Assassin’s Creed. The BBC covered the story internationally, recognizing Clair Obscur’s victory as a cultural moment that transcended gaming circles.
Macron’s Instagram Congratulations
Within hours of The Game Awards concluding, President Macron posted on his verified Instagram account: “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has just been named Game of the Year in Los Angeles. A historic first for a French title! A source of great pride for Montpellier and for France. Congratulations to the teams at Sandfall Interactive. For future generations and those to come!”
The message emphasizes national pride and frames Clair Obscur’s success as a French cultural victory rather than just an entertainment product. By highlighting that this is the first French game to win The Game Awards’ top prize, Macron positions gaming achievements as comparable to other forms of artistic or sporting excellence that nations celebrate.
PC Gamer noted the significance of a major head of state throwing a public thumbs-up to video games, comparing it to when Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk gave US President Barack Obama a copy of The Witcher 2 as an official diplomatic gift in 2011. These gestures from world leaders signal recognition that video games carry real cultural weight worth acknowledging at the highest levels of government.
The First Congratulations: May 2025
This wasn’t Macron’s first public acknowledgment of Clair Obscur’s success. Back in early May 2025, shortly after the game launched and sold its first million copies while earning exceptional review scores, Macron posted on Instagram: “One million copies sold and currently one of the highest-rated games in history, and yes, it’s French! Congratulations to Sandfall Interactive and all the creators of Expedition 33. You are a shining example of French audacity and creativity.”
The May message came during Clair Obscur’s initial commercial and critical breakthrough. PC Gamer reported that selling a million copies quickly for a debut indie game launching day-one into Xbox Game Pass represented significant achievement, as Game Pass availability typically reduces direct sales. The critical acclaim was equally impressive, with review aggregators showing scores in the 90s.
Just days before his Clair Obscur post, Macron had also congratulated French esports organization Team Vitality after their Counter-Strike team won the ESL Grand Slam at Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025, saying the victory “made our colors shine.” This pattern suggests Macron or his social media team actively monitor French gaming achievements for promotional opportunities.
The 2023 Controversy No One’s Forgetting
| Date | Macron Statement | Context |
|---|---|---|
| July 2023 | Games have “intoxicated” young rioters | French riots after police killing |
| September 2023 | Games are “art” and “culture” | Walked back previous comments |
| May 2025 | Clair Obscur shows “French audacity” | First million copies sold |
| December 2025 | “Historic first” for French title | Game of the Year at TGA |
Despite Macron’s 2025 praise for gaming, the internet has a long memory. In July 2023, during riots sparked by police killing a teenager during a traffic stop, Macron stated there was a “feeling of unreality” amongst the youngest rioters, saying “it sometimes feels like some of them are experiencing on the streets the videogames that have intoxicated them.” This comment linked video games directly to real-world violence, echoing decades of discredited moral panic about gaming’s effects on youth.
The backlash was immediate and fierce. Game Rant, The Gamer, Eurogamer, and other gaming outlets highlighted the hypocrisy of Macron now praising games after previously blaming them for social violence. Social media responses to his Clair Obscur congratulations included numerous comments reminding him of the 2023 remarks, with some accusing him of exploiting the game’s success to boost his political image without genuine commitment to gaming culture.
In September 2023, Macron attempted damage control with a lengthy statement on X (formerly Twitter) clarifying his position. He wrote: “Video games are culture, entertainment, spectacle! They are a field of artistic experimentation, a fascinating learning space, blending all the arts. Playing means listening to music, immersing oneself in stories, feeling emotions, and traveling through time.” He added that Assassin’s Creed and Dofus are “creations of French talent. We are proud of them.”
PC Gamer’s coverage of the December congratulations specifically mentioned Macron’s “less-than-stellar history with blaming videogames for the ills of youth,” noting that politicians praising games is positive but the context of previous statements matters. Whether Macron genuinely changed his views or simply recognized political value in associating with Clair Obscur’s success remains debatable.
Cultural Victory: What This Means for France
Multiple outlets used Civilization game terminology to describe France’s gaming industry moment. PC Gamer wrote that the nation is “nearing a Civilization-style cultural victory,” referring to the strategy game’s win condition where spreading your culture globally leads to triumph. The metaphor fits – France asserting itself as a major gaming nation through Clair Obscur’s success represents cultural soft power.
France has long struggled with gaming industry identity. Ubisoft dominates as the country’s major publisher with franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six, but these are global AAA productions that don’t necessarily feel distinctly French. Smaller French successes like Arkane Studios’ Dishonored series or DONTNOD’s Life is Strange gained cult followings but never achieved mainstream GOTY recognition.
Clair Obscur changes that equation. The game is unmistakably French in its Belle Époque aesthetic, art nouveau visual design, and themes exploring mortality and time through a distinctly European lens. It achieved both commercial and critical success while maintaining cultural identity, proving French developers can create globally appealing games without sacrificing what makes them French.
GamesRadar reported that even Dofus, France’s massively successful 21-year-old MMO, referenced Clair Obscur by using character names from the RPG in its new features. This cross-pollination within French gaming culture demonstrates how Clair Obscur’s success elevates the entire ecosystem, inspiring and validating other French developers.
The Political Calculation
Macron’s two public congratulations to Sandfall Interactive aren’t purely altruistic celebrations of artistic achievement – they’re calculated political messaging. France faces economic challenges, youth unemployment issues, and cultural anxieties about American technology companies dominating entertainment. Highlighting French gaming success addresses multiple political needs simultaneously.
First, it positions France as innovative and competitive in cutting-edge industries rather than living on past artistic glories. Second, it appeals to younger demographics who consume gaming culture and might otherwise feel disconnected from traditional politics. Third, it provides concrete evidence of French talent succeeding globally in a field dominated by American and Japanese companies.
Game Rant’s coverage noted that some fans accused Macron of using Clair Obscur’s historic win to score political points, and they’re not wrong. Politicians always leverage cultural achievements for political benefit – that’s part of their job. The question is whether the support is genuine or purely opportunistic.
The timing of both congratulations supports the opportunistic interpretation. Macron praised Clair Obscur after it already achieved commercial success and critical acclaim, not when Sandfall was an unknown studio struggling for funding and visibility. Supportive statements cost nothing when everyone already recognizes the game’s quality. Real support would involve policy changes, tax incentives for game development, or funding for smaller studios before they prove commercial viability.
International Reactions
Macron’s congratulations received international media coverage beyond gaming outlets. France24, BBC News, NPR, and Yahoo Entertainment all covered the story, demonstrating that Clair Obscur’s success transcended gaming circles into mainstream cultural news. This level of attention for a video game award is relatively rare outside blockbuster franchises like Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto.
The international framing focused on two angles: France asserting gaming industry credibility, and a head of state taking video games seriously as legitimate culture worth governmental recognition. Both narratives play into broader discussions about gaming’s cultural status and whether it deserves the same institutional respect as film, literature, or other established art forms.
Video Games Chronicle emphasized the “great pride for France” angle, highlighting how Macron positioned Clair Obscur as a national achievement rather than just a commercial product. Eurogamer noted it as a “historic first,” framing the Game of the Year win as a milestone moment for French gaming that future developers will reference.
Some international reactions expressed skepticism about politicians suddenly caring about games only when they achieve mainstream success. Reddit discussions included comments questioning whether Macron or his social media team actually play games or just opportunistically leverage cultural moments for political benefit. The consensus seemed to be that recognition is positive regardless of sincerity, but cynicism about politicians’ motivations remains strong.
What Clair Obscur Actually Achieved
To understand why Macron felt compelled to comment twice, it’s worth reviewing what Clair Obscur actually accomplished:
Sold over one million copies within weeks of launch despite launching day-one into Xbox Game Pass, which typically suppresses direct sales. Earned review scores in the 90s on Metacritic, placing it among the highest-rated games of 2025. Received 10 nominations at The Game Awards, the most for any game that year. Won nine awards including Game of the Year, setting a new TGA record. Passed the concurrent player peaks on Steam of established genre titans like Metaphor: ReFantazio.
For a debut game from a new indie studio working with a modest budget, these achievements are genuinely extraordinary. Even one of these milestones would constitute success – achieving all of them simultaneously represents a cultural phenomenon. Jacob Geller, the influential video game essayist, placed Clair Obscur at number two on his personal top ten games of 2025, describing it alongside Hollow Knight: Silksong as modern equivalents to Majora’s Mask in exploring grief and time.
The game’s success also has economic implications. Sandfall Interactive employs developers in Montpellier, contributing to the local and national economy. If Clair Obscur’s success leads to a sequel or inspires other French developers to pursue ambitious projects, it could catalyze growth in France’s independent gaming sector beyond just Ubisoft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Macron congratulate Clair Obscur twice?
First in May 2025 when the game sold a million copies and earned exceptional reviews, then again in December 2025 after it swept The Game Awards with nine wins including Game of the Year. Both represented major cultural milestones worth recognizing.
What did Macron say about video games in 2023?
During France’s 2023 riots, Macron said young rioters were experiencing “on the streets the videogames that have intoxicated them,” linking games to violence. He later walked this back, calling games art and culture, but gamers haven’t forgotten the original comments.
How many awards did Clair Obscur win at The Game Awards?
Nine awards out of 10 nominations, including Game of the Year, Best Narrative, Best Score, Best Art Direction, Best Game Direction, Best RPG, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie, and Best Performance. This set a new TGA record.
Is Clair Obscur the first French game to win Game of the Year?
Yes, at The Game Awards specifically. While French studios like Ubisoft have won awards for individual games, Clair Obscur is the first French-developed title to win TGA’s top prize, making it a historic achievement for the country’s gaming industry.
Is Macron actually a gamer?
Unlikely. PC Gamer expressed doubt that Macron is “in his office toying with different Pictos combinations and mastering his parry timings.” The congratulations appear to be political recognition of cultural achievement rather than personal gaming enthusiasm.
Why are people calling Macron’s congratulations hypocritical?
Because he praised games poisoning youth in 2023 but now celebrates gaming success in 2025. Many see this as opportunistic political positioning rather than genuine support for gaming culture, especially since he only praised Clair Obscur after it was already successful.
What is Sandfall Interactive?
A Montpellier-based indie studio formed by developers who previously worked at Ubisoft. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is their debut game, making their success even more remarkable.
Did other world leaders comment on The Game Awards?
Not publicly at this level. Macron’s Instagram posts represent relatively rare instances of sitting heads of state acknowledging video game achievements as culturally significant events worth governmental recognition.
The Bottom Line
Emmanuel Macron’s two public congratulations to Sandfall Interactive for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s success represent both progress and problematic opportunism. On one hand, a major world leader recognizing video games as legitimate culture worthy of presidential acknowledgment signals gaming’s arrival as a respected art form. France celebrating a homegrown game’s global triumph makes sense as soft power projection and cultural pride.
On the other hand, Macron’s 2023 comments blaming games for poisoning youth reveal the shallow foundation of his 2025 praise. Politicians celebrating cultural achievements after they’re already successful costs nothing and risks nothing. Real support would involve funding game development, creating tax incentives for studios, or defending gaming culture when it’s under attack rather than joining the attackers.
Regardless of Macron’s sincerity, Clair Obscur’s achievement remains genuine and historic. A debut indie game from a French studio swept The Game Awards with nine wins including Game of the Year, sold over a million copies, and earned critical acclaim as one of 2025’s best games. That success stands on its own merits regardless of who celebrates it or why. Sandfall Interactive created something special that resonated globally while maintaining distinct French cultural identity, and that’s worth celebrating whether presidents do it for genuine reasons or political calculation.