With the massive success ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33, both critically and commercially, some might assume that developer Sandfall Interactive might be scaling up to tackle more projects.
That won’t be the case, according to studio founder Guillaume Broche and Expedition 33 creative director Tom Guillermin.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Devs Not Done With RPG As More Features Planned
New content mentioned, so prepare for more turn-based battles.
It’s worth noting that Sandfall is a small studio that managed to release what could very well be 2025’s Game of the Year.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Developers Is “Just The Right Size” Says Game Director
Speaking toAutmaton, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead programmer and creative director Tom Guillermin was asked about future studio expansion. The developer didn’t beat around the bush, and squashed any notion that the studio might be expanding soon, stating that the dev team is just the right size to craft games like Expedition 33.
“I think that, for now, I’d prefer working as a small team. I’m not sure how big “an ideal team” would be (laughs). But when it comes to making a full-priced turn-based RPG, I believe that the team we have now is just the right size,” mused Guillermin
While Sandfall had the support of external partners for things like quality assurance (QA), localization and marketing, the actual work done on the RPG was with a very small team. Broche explained, “We had five people working on environments, two on the story. And I think, around three to six people worked on the cinematics. The music was done by four people.”
8 Things Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Does Better Than Final Fantasy
Its level of polish, writing, and overall gameplay has set a standard that has sent shockwaves throughout the industry
The reason everything worked out was that each one was carefully hand-picked over the course of more than 200 interviews. Broche explained, “After establishing our company, we conducted over 200 interviews in order to gather the first team members. The screenings were rather rigorous.”
Broche revealed that instead of industry veterans, he opted for younger people who had “fighting spirit.” This was due to younger devs having fewer assumptions about what each job was supposed to be. “At the time, our VFX artist and character designer had both just graduated from college, and this game was their first job ever. Since they had very little experience working, they also didn’t have many existing notions of what work was supposed to be like – which I think I was a good thing, because they managed to adapt to our peculiar work style," Broche said,
Whatever Broche did, it worked, as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 plays like an AAA game, but with a much smaller budget.
Although there’s no sequel announced for Expedition 33, afilm adaptation is in the works. No word yet on whether we’re getting more story content, but we did geta new update yesterdaythat added quality-of-life improvements and more.
Will other studios follow Sandfall’s development process? I wouldn’t be surprised if they did, given the rising development costs.
Clair Obscur Actor Is Going To Play It For The First Time (Because Fans Keep Asking Him About It)
Charlie Cox has said that he will finally play Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 because fans keep asking him about it and he knows nothing about the story.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
WHERE TO PLAY
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics, making battles more immersive and addictive than ever. Explore a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France in which you battle devastating enemies.In this evolution of JRPGs, real-time actions enhance the heart of turn-based combat. Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and character synergies. Open an active dimension in combat - dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system.With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners as they embark upon a desperate quest to break the Paintress’ cycle of death. Follow the trail of previous expeditions and discover their fate. Get to know the members of Expedition 33 as they learn to work together against impossible odds.Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend and recruit special companions, access new travel methods and discover secret areas in the World Map.
