Fourteen years after Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk gifted US President Barack Obama a copy of The Witcher 2, French President Emmanuel Macron has also chosen to celebrate the cultural significance of video games. No, he hasn鈥檛 engaged with Donald Trump on Steam, but he did dedicate a moment to acknowledge French game developer Sandfall Interactive for their impressive achievements with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
“A million copies and currently one of the best-rated games in history: and yes, it鈥檚 French!” Macron expressed on Instagram. “Congrats to Sandfall Interactive and everyone behind Expedition 33. You are a shining example of French audacity and creativity.”
馃毃 Translation: “A million copies and currently one of the best-rated games in history: and yes, it鈥檚 French! Congratulations to Sandfall Interactive and all the creators of Expedition 33. You are a shining example of French audacity and creativity.”
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has achieved extraordinary critical and commercial success, having peaked at around 100,000 concurrent players on Steam shortly after its release, and boasting an aggregate score of 92% on Metacritic, a figure many developers aspire to match. Remarkably, the game sold over a million copies within just three days of its launch.
Macron’s public endorsement of video games underscores their relevance in modern culture. This isn’t the first time Macron has publicly recognized the gaming industry. Just before he acknowledged Clair Obscur, he commended French esports organization Team Vitality when they triumphed at the Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 tournament, saying, “They made our colors shine.”
His consistent support for video games counters common misconceptions, often framed by critics who dismiss gaming as a mere pastime for children. It’s refreshing to see a high political figure honor the achievements of gaming, a sentiment bolstered by Macron鈥檚 previous statements about the artistic potential and societal value of video games.
