The developers behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have been officially recognized by the French Ministry of Culture, receiving the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) — a distinguished award celebrating significant contributions to the arts and cultural heritage. The team at Sandfall Interactive — including founders Guillaume Broche, Tom Guillermin, and François Meurisse, along with roughly 25 other members — were appointed Chevaliers (Knights) of the order in a ceremony that highlights the game’s impact on both national culture and the global gaming landscape.

READ MORE: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominates The Game Awards 2025

The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres was established in 1957 to recognize individuals and groups who have enriched the arts, literature, and cultural influence in France and internationally. It includes three grades — Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), and Commandeur (Commander) — with the Chevalier rank honoring up to 200 recipients annually for their creative and cultural achievements.

Sandfall’s award comes on the heels of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s landmark success, including a record-breaking sweep at The Game Awards 2025 where it took home multiple prestigious distinctions, highlighted by Game of the Year and widespread acclaim from critics and players alike. French President Emmanuel Macron publicly congratulated the developers, calling the game “a source of great pride for Montpellier and for France.”

Minister of Culture Rachida Dati praised the team’s achievement, describing it as an “exceptional decoration for an exceptional success” that underscores videogames’ importance as a legitimate art form and essential cultural industry. The honor places Sandfall alongside revered figures from global game development, including Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, Rayman creator Michel Ancel, and Alone in the Dark pioneer Frédérick Raynal — all previous recipients of the Order.

Though France has not been a monarchy for well over two centuries, the tradition of orders and knighthood remains embedded in its cultural honors system. Unlike historical orders tied to royal authority, such as the Order of the Star founded in 1351 by King John II — a medieval chivalric order intended to recognize martial valor — modern distinctions like the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres are civilian orders of merit established by the republic to acknowledge contributions to national culture and influence.

France also maintains other civilian honors such as the Légion d’honneur (Legion of Honour), which recognizes eminent service in civil and military life, and historically, the Order of the Holy Spirit served as the highest chivalric order under the old monarchy. While these traditional monarchic orders were discontinued with the end of royal rule, their legacy carries forward in France’s modern honors system — where the republic continues to ceremonially distinguish achievements in arts, letters, and national service.

By bestowing this title on the Sandfall team, France affirms both the artistic legitimacy of videogames and the enduring cultural significance of honors that trace their heritage to centuries of recognition for creative and intellectual excellence.

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