French President Emmanuel Macron congratulates Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on Instagram, praising them as a brilliant symbol of French bravery and innovation: "You embody French audacity and creativity at their finest!"
Emmanuel Macron, the French Prez, jumped on the bandwagon of acknowledging the cultural value in video games just like ol' Donald Tusk did years back, presenting US President Barack Obama with a copy of The Witcher 2. Instead of befriending Donald Trump on Steam, this time Macron took a moment to hype up Sandfall Interactive for its massive success with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
On Insta (yep, Google Translated), Macron shouted out the studio, "A million copies and to date, one of the best-rated games in history: and yes, it's French!" He continued, "Congrats to Sandfall Interactive and all creators of Expedition 33. You're a shining example of French audacity and creativity."
Clair Obscur's more than a hit, boasting a 92% Metacritic score and over 100,000 concurrent players on Steam. It surpassed a million copies sold just three days after release. But much like Tusk's diplomatic gift, the significance of Macron's endorsement isn't just about commercial or critical success-it's about officially recognizing video games' cultural importance.
Now, let's address the elephant in the room. Not so long ago, US House Speaker Mike Johnson used the "scourge of video games" to justify Medicaid cuts, and old man Trump played the blame game for real-world violence, citing games more than once. It's refreshing to see another major head of state publicly boost video games, breaking away from these outdated, narrow-minded mindsets.
And guess what? This isn't Macron's first rodeo turbo-boosting the gaming scene. Just a few days prior to his Clair Obscur post, he waved the French flag for Team Vitality after its Counter-Strike team won the ESL Grand Slam at the Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 tournament. Macron said that victory "made our colors shine."
So, Macron's not perfect. He's made some iffy connections between gaming and youth unrest in the past. But just a few months later, he switched his tune, recognizing video games as "culture, entertainment, spectacle!" He went on to describe gaming as "a field of artistic experimentation," and a place where players immerse themselves in stories, travel through time, and explore visual universes that write new chapters in art history.
Macron wrote, "Videogames are an integral part of France. Assassin's Creed and Dofus are creations of French talent. We are proud of them." In short, as the French might say, Macron popped off the gaming community's collective cherry. Onwards and upwards, mes amis!
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Andy ChalkHello there, cyber-friend! Being glued to my PC since I was a nipper, I've played everything from text-based adventures and primitive arcade games to RPGs and immersive sims. I started writing gaming news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow stayed off the chopping block until 2014, when I joined PC Gamer. Here, I cover the entire gaming landscape-from new releases and patch notes to legal brouhahas, esports beefs, and Henry Cavill sightings (lots of Henry Cavill).
- Emmanuel Macron, the French president, endorsed Sandfall Interactive's game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, praising it as one of the best-rated games in history, boasting a million copies sold.
- Macron's endorsement aims to officially recognize video games' cultural importance, marking a shift from outdated, narrow-minded mindsets that link games to real-world violence or scourge.
- Henry Cavill, a popular actor, often appears in gaming discussions due to his involvement with various projects.
- The PC Gamer team provides game news, reviews, and deals, featuring top releases, favorites, freebies, and various genres like shooters, RPGs, and co-op games.
- Andy Chalk, a team member, has been playing games since he was a child and has been writing gaming news since 2007.
- During the international ESL Grand Slam at the Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 tournament, Macron supported Team Vitality and lauded their victory as making French colors shine.
- Macron recognizes Assassin's Creed and Dofus as creations of French talent, expressing pride in these gaming achievements.
- As technology advances, games become more interactive, offering immersive storytelling, time travel, and visual universes that contribute to art history.
- With an understanding that gaming is an integral part of France's culture, entertainment, and spectacle, Macron's endorsement signifies a significant step forward for the recognition of video games as a vital cultural contribution.
