Inspired by the success of games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, French president Emmanuel Macron declares ‘videogames are part of our culture’ and announces a new international gaming festival
French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for a new international videogame festival to be held in France, citing the cultural importance of gaming. The announcement was prompted by the unprecedented success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a French-developed JRPG that became one of 2025’s biggest releases, selling millions of copies and winning numerous awards. Macron had previously given the game two separate public endorsements.
Macron made the announcement at the Lumiere Summit, a conference bringing together governments, businesses, creators, and cultural institutions to collaborate on the future of cinema and the moving image. The decision represents official governmental recognition of videogames as part of French cultural heritage.
This initiative underscores the growing international acknowledgment of the videogame industry’s cultural and economic significance, positioning France as a potential international gaming hub and reflecting how commercially successful domestic titles can influence cultural policy at the highest levels of government.