Spoilers for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Chapter 1 finale ahead.
Charlie Cox’s The Game Awards nomination is a contentious one. The actor received the nod for Best Performance alongside Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 colleagues Jennifer English (Maelle) and Ben Starr (Verso).
While it’s hard to deny that his performance as Gustave was excellent, the character was only in around a third of the game, being killed in the climax of Chapter 1. Cox himself admitted spending only a few hours in the studio recording lines and even suggested that Gustave’s motion-capture artist, Maxence Cazorla, deserved all the credit.
With debate about who should receive the nomination rampant, Baldur’s Gate 3’s performance director, Aliona Baranova, has weighed in, suggesting that The Game Awards (and award shows in general) need a whole new category altogether to accommodate mo-cap artists.
Aliona Baranova Wants An Award Category That Recognizes Motion Capture Artists
Baranova knows a thing or two about motion capture and performance in video games. She directed some of the most iconic characters and scenes in Baldur’s Gate 3, a game renowned for its performances.
Responding to a tweet spotlighting Cox’s admiration for Cazorla, Baranova said, “yup, I think we should have a motion capture category at awards shows”.
When somebody suggested to Baranova that Cazorla would be the only mo-cap artists people would be familiar with, she responded, “An awards category could encourage more studios to release behind-the-scenes long takes of the mocap, like Sandfall has shared with Maxence to post online. It’s rare, but if more bts footage was shared, people would get to see the amazing performances ppl put in”.
It’s refreshing to see somebody advocating for those who, despite playing such a big part in video games, are so rarely featured in the limelight.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Just Won Every Award It Was Nominated For At The Golden Joystick Awards
I’m starting to think you guys like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Baranova will have a keen eye on this year’s Game Awards. Her partner, Jennifer English, will be hoping to scoop up the illustrious Best Performance gong for her appearance as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The Shadowheart actress has already scooped one award, winning for Best Leading Performance at The Golden Joysticks, and she’ll be keen to make up for being snubbed at The Game Awards in 2023 by picking up the prize this year.
- Released
-
April 24, 2025
- ESRB
-
Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
-
Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
-
Kepler Interactive
