Great though Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is, there's been some discourse over the game's positioning. Among the many plaudits it's received are nods for being an indie game, a distinction that’s been contested due to the level of funding and resources the team received. Developer Sandfall believes it's a valid label, despite having a strong publisher.
"We feel like we are an independent company, but we get a lot of support from Kepler, a lot more than other indie games get," Nicholas Maxson-Francombe, art director on Clair Obscur, tells Edge. "It feels definitely like those games might deserve it more, especially since we're nominated in so many categories. But, at heart, we're indie."
