The video game "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" was named best game of the year at the Pégases awards ceremony held Thursday evening in Paris. Developed by the Montpellier-based studio Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive, this title continues its string of accolades after already winning a major award at the Game Awards in the United States in December.
The game, designed by a team of around thirty developers, also distinguished itself in several categories, notably for its art direction, narrative, and sound design. Inspired in particular by the Japanese Final Fantasy saga, this role-playing game immerses players in a post-apocalyptic world where a group of characters confronts an entity threatening humanity.
A showcase for a sector that is nevertheless fragile
At the same ceremony, other French productions were also recognized. "The Rogue Prince of Persia", developed by the Bordeaux-based studio Evil Empire for Ubisoft, received the award for best first game, while "Absolum", from the Parisian studio Dotemu, won in the categories of best independent game and best game design.
Despite these artistic successes, the French video game industry is going through a difficult period. Several companies in the sector are facing declining investment and restructuring, while some studios are considering job cuts. Yet, with nearly €5,8 billion in revenue projected for 2024, video games remain the country's leading cultural industry.
