I still say Expedition 33 should be disqualified for using AI generated content.

That's just absurd tbh.  For one, the examples I've seen in E33's case seem rather limited - given the heat Sandfall has received.  Not to mention a recent update supposedly removed it.

It's perfectly fair to inform voters about its usage - in any capacity, but winning or placing should be determined the 'ole fashioned way.

By supposedly they probably mean "Didn't actually do it.".

By supposedly I mean "according to other sources."

https://www.polygon.com/clair-obscur-expedition-33-indie-game-awards-goty-rescinded/

"The RPG originally launched with AI generated background assets before a patch removed them"

I vaguely recall this being documented with pre- & post-update screenshots across social media too.  The only extent of it - that I've personally seen - was stuff like wallpaper art wrapped around big poles or maybe some stuck on a wall.

They did remove it. They used AI for placeholder assets, one of which made its way into the initial release, and was replaced by a proper man-made texture. This was several months ago.

I'm far from an AI defender, but Clair Obscur's use of it is definitely one of the tamest cases.

Six days left to vote! Make your voices heard!

Shouldn't have been used in the first place.

I agree. It's weird in that it kinda goes against the whole point of the game, too. But I don't think it's nearly as egregious as something like Arc Raiders, which by the way is also in the vote.

Then Arc Raiders should be removed too. AI generated content is not only soulless and cutting art and animation jobs, it's just plain lazy.

The thing is, Arc Raiders is up there because a majority likes the game. There'd be no need for arbitrary removals if most people cared about AI being in their games. And these kinds of events are supposed to be a celebration of what the majority likes, it's not right to remove something because a few people don't like it.

I don't wish Arc Raiders was removed from the vote, I wish it hadn't made it in there in the first place. But I can't speak for everyone, it is what it is.