Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Shuhei Yoshida told Expedition 33 studio to avoid terms like 'turn-based RPG' because it may cause people to "overlook" the game

One of the reasons Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stood out so much in early footage was how action-packed its combat looked, despite being a turn-based RPG. But while developer Sandfall Interactive has described the game as a turn-based RPG - and reinvigorated the genre, to some degree - not everyone was happy with that approach.

Eurogamer / Sherif Saed

'It's Incredibly Well-Made, But…' — Former PlayStation Boss Warned Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Devs It Would Be 'Overlooked' if They Called It a Turn-Based RPG

Former PlayStation lead Shuhei Yoshida warned the developers behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 about calling it a "turn-based RPG" because "that alone might cause players to overlook it.

IGN / Michael Cripe

Shuhei Yoshida advised Expedition 33 developers not to call it a “turn-based RPG” due to negative JRPG stigma at the time

Yoshida recalled the anecdote during a lecture to indie developers on pitching their games to publishers.

Automaton West / Amber V

‘That’s what we value as players’: Clair Obscur leads say Sony’s decision to stop making discs is ‘super sad’

It's also meaningful for a developer to hold a physical copy in their own hands, they say

VGC / Chris Scullion

PC Gamer / Harvey Randall

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs are working on a Nintendo Switch 2 version, but note the "big technical challenge" of getting it up and running

Do you want to play Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on Switch 2? Since the launch of Nintendo's console, fans have been clamouring for the breakout RPG to come to the platform - and we've seen hints from the studio that a port is something it would be willing to explore in the future.

Eurogamer / Dom Peppiatt

Announcement

Clair Obscur developers see Sony's no-disk announcement as 'a sad decision', because they 'like to go outside, buy a game, and come back home with it'

"I think it's part of the beauty of art too—that it's something tangible that you can touch."

Clair Obscur studio says it wants to bring it to Switch 2 but it’s ‘way too early to announce anything’

Sandfall is looking at ways to get the game running well on Nintendo's handheld

VGC / Chris Scullion

Rumour

Clair Obscur Dev Still Interested In Switch 2 Port, But Admits It Would Be A "Big Technical Challenge"

It's also "too early" to announce anything. The French Studio behind the award-winning role-playing title Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has already discussed the idea of a Switch 2 port, so what's the latest update on this? In an interview with Automaton recently, Sandfall Interactive's CEO and creative director Guillaume Broche reiterated how the studio was still "interested" in getting a Nintendo version of the Unreal Engine 5 game up and running. However, it's still "too early" for the team to

Nintendo Life

“It’s a sad decision.” Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 developers on the end of physical disc production and why they pushed for a physical release despite the drawbacks

Interview with Sandfall Interactive's core members about what physical games mean to them.

Automaton West / Genki

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director says eliminating limitations in development is a “big mistake.” We talk to Sandfall Interactive about staying small, Japanese influences, and what’s next

Interview with Sandfall Interactive at the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 postmortem in Yokohama, Japan.

Automaton West / Genki

GamesIndustry.biz / Sophie McEvoy

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on PS5 Is a Couple Dollars Less Than Its Prime Day Price Right Now at Amazon

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on PS5 has dropped to a new low price of $37.49 at Amazon with the help of a coupon, but this offer only lasts until July 27.

IGN / Hannah Hoolihan

Business

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins Best Game at Develop:Star Awards 2026

The Develop:Star Awards 2026 were held last night, where Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continued its success by winning three awards.

PC Gamer / Harvey Randall

Clair Obscur is flawed on purpose, says director: 'Games that try to be perfect, that try to fix all their flaws—they're usually just really boring'

"My theory is that it's just like people."

NateTheHate reiterates Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is coming to Switch 2 this year

The post NateTheHate reiterates Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is coming to Switch 2 this year appeared first on GamesHub.

GamesHub / Ollie Ring

Rumour

Podcast: Ben Starr on closing the book on Expedition 33, and what’s next

Ben Starr returns to VGC for our yearly summer interview

VGC / Jordan Middler

Game Developer / Game Developer Podcast

Crafting Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's mournful tale ft. Jennifer Svedberg-Yen

This month, GDC Content Marketing Manager Beth Elderkin chats with Sandfall Interactive lead writer and localization producer Jenniver Svedberg-Yen about the creative decisions that went into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Andy Serkis Praises Expedition 33, Says Hollywood's 'Snobbery' Towards Video Game Is Changing

The Lord of the Rings actor Andy Serkis has nothing but great things to say about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

IGN / Cade Onder

GamesIndustry.biz / Lewis Packwood

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins Best Game at the BIG Festival Awards at Gamescom Latam

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has continued its victory lap around the industry's award ceremonies by scooping Best Game at the BIG Festival Awards.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 celebrates its one-year anniversary with... new haircuts?

If, like me, you tossed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 aside in disgust because protagonist Gustave's hair wasn't swirly enough, it may be time to return, thanks to a new update released to celebrate the RPG's first anniversary.

Eurogamer / Matt Wales

Expedition 33 Celebrates One-Year Anniversary With Small Update On Xbox & Beyond

"Happy 1 Year Anniversary of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33!!". Can you believe it's been one year since Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 first launched on Xbox Game Pass back in April of 2025?! The game ended up being a massive success — more than anyone could have expected — and took home the Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2025, while also being crowned the biggest third-party launch on Xbox Game Pass last year. To mark the first anniversary, developer Sandfall Interactive has issued a surp

Pure Xbox

TechRaptor / Joseph Allen

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Sales Hit 8m on First Anniversary

It's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's first anniversary, and the RPG is celebrating by acknowledging another sales milestone (Maellestone?).

Business

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Gets Free Anniversary Update That Adds Fresh Haircuts for the Whole Party

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is celebrating the first anniversary of its release with a free update that adds new cosmetic options for the game's full party.

IGN / Tom Phillips

PS5 RPG Expedition 33 Is One Year Old Today, and There's a Free Content Update to Celebrate

Available now. It's been a full year since the release of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based RPG that quickly became a phenomenon. To celebrate the game's first anniversary, developer Sandfall Interactive has just released a new patch that, as well as some fixes and adjustments, introduces some brand new content for fans to enjoy. Read the full article on pushsquare.com

Push Square

Rock Paper Shotgun / Mark Warren

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's first birthday is here, cue an anniversary patch giving everyone in the J'RPG special hairdos

It's been a year since Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 rocked up and had Nic say lots of nice things about it. Developers Sandfall Interactive have decided to celebrate both milestones by putting out a patch that adds in a bunch of fresh trims for the RPG's litany of head hair havers.

This Week in Video Games / Maddie Agne

Charlie Cox Continues to Praise Clair Obscur Motion Capture Artists: “You Feel Like a Little Bit of an Impostor”

Voice actor Tracy Wiles said Clair Obscur motion capture artists have had more exposure "than I've seen in any other game" The post Charlie Cox Continues to Praise Clair Obscur Motion Capture Artists: “You Feel Like a Little Bit of an Impostor”

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Star Charlie Cox Says Robert Pattinson Should Play Gustave in Movie Adaptation — Though He'd Return to Provide the Voice

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 star Charlie Cox has discussed the hit video game's upcoming movie adaptation — and expressed interest in providing a very specific part.

IGN / Tom Phillips

This Week in Video Games / Edmond Tran

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Wins Best Game at BAFTA Games Awards 2026

BAFTA has announced the winners for its 2026 Games Awards, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 taking out Best Game The post Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Wins Best Game at BAFTA Games Awards 2026

This Week in Video Games / Edmond Tran

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Wins Best Game at BAFTA Games Awards 2026

BAFTA has announced the winners for its 2026 Games Awards, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 taking out Best Game The post Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Wins Best Game at BAFTA Games Awards 2026

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wins Best Game at the BAFTA Games Awards 2026

BAFTA Games Awards 2026 Winners: The Full List.

IGN / Wesley Yin-Poole

Eurogamer / Victoria Phillips Kennedy

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 voice actor Charlie Cox has finally played "a bit" of the game that landed him a Best Performance nomination, though he says he isn't very good at it

Actor Charlie Cox has finally managed to play at least some of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the game he lent his vocal talents to and which ultimately landed him a Game Awards nomination for Best Performance.

Charlie Cox Has Played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Daredevil actor Charlie Cox has finally played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, having previously admitted to feeling like a "total fraud" whenever fans brought up his appearance in the game.

IGN / Wesley Yin-Poole

PC Gamer / Jody Macgregor

Charlie Cox has finally played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33—a bit

The star of Stardust and Daredevil previously admitted to not having tried the game he stars in.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs never imagined to achieve the kind of massive success it did: 'Our official goal towards the end of production was to reach for 85 in Metacritic'

Shoot for the moon and you'll land among the stars.

PC Gamer / Elie Gould

Game File / Stephen Totilo

The developers of Clair Obscur gave me an interview and some advice

We spoke about the game's finale (don't worry, there are spoiler warnings), the best Pictos, and what I can be doing better.

GamesIndustry.biz / Sophie McEvoy

BAFTA Game Awards 2026 nominations revealed, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads in 12 categories

The 2026 BAFTA Awards nominations have been revealed, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 receiving 12 nominations, including Best Game.

GamesIndustry.biz / Sophie McEvoy

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins Game of the Year at Game Developers Choice Awards 2026

The 26th annual Game Developers Choice Awards took place last night, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 securing five accolades including Game of the Year.