| Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | DLC & Preorder | Review |
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 News
2025
April 3
⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will offer PC players a wide range of graphical presets from Low to Epic, while console users can choose between Performance and Quality modes. The game is confirmed to be PS5 Pro Enhanced, though exact specs are still unknown. Xbox players can now pre-load the game ahead of its global launch on April 24 at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET. The title will include 56 achievements and trophies with challenges like defeating bosses without damage and collecting all 33 music records.
March 24
⚫︎ Sandfall Interactive has confirmed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will not include a minimap, opting instead for a compass to aid navigation. Producer Francois Meurisse explained that the decision was made to encourage exploration rather than reliance on UI elements. But beyond gameplay, this choice ties directly into the game's narrative, players are part of an expedition venturing into the unknown, following in the footsteps of past explorers who failed. "They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed," Meurisse stated, reinforcing the idea that players should feel as lost and uncertain as their in-game counterparts.
March 21
⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's director, Guillaume Broche, was "starving for new turn-based RPGs" and figured if he wanted them, others would too, leading him to start development as a passion project in 2019. Drawing inspiration from Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and FromSoftware titles like Sekiro, Broche aimed to merge strategic combat with skill-based mechanics.
March 19
⚫︎ In a recent interview, producer Francois Meurisse highlighted Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's unique blend of turn-based strategy and challenging, off-rhythm enemy attacks. While deeply rooted in JRPG traditions, the game distinguishes itself with a Belle Epoque-inspired art style, reflecting the French developer Sandfall Interactive’s goal of creating a visually and mechanically distinct experience. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws inspiration from classic Final Fantasy titles while incorporating real-time defensive mechanics influenced by Sekiro and action point-based skills inspired by deckbuilders.
March 3
⚫︎ Gaming News Media were able to be given playable demos of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's ahead of its release, and many were impressed by how the game's turn-based combat is unlike its predecessors, being an evolution and combination of all the great titles before it.
January 30
⚫︎ Even before its release, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is getting a movie adaptation. Developer Sandfall Interactive has partnered with Story Kitchen, the studio behind game-to-film projects like Sonic and the upcoming Dredge movie. While no director or cast has been announced, producers Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Elena Sandoval are attached to the project. Story Kitchen expressed excitement about translating the game's rich narrative and complex characters into a cinematic experience.
2024
August 29
⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws heavy inspiration from classic turn-based RPGs, with creative director Guillaume Broche citing Final Fantasy VIII-X, Persona, and Octopath Traveler as key influences. Broche, a longtime fan of the genre, wanted to create a turn-based RPG with high-fidelity graphics, blending real-time reaction-based combat with strategic depth. Players can switch party members in the open world and use traversal abilities to solve puzzles. Broche was overwhelmed by the game's positive reception, expressing his desire for players to "break the game" with creative builds. The development team hopes Expedition 33 will leave a lasting impact, much like the RPGs that shaped their own experiences.
July 30
⚫︎ Creative director Guillaume Broche shared that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 takes inspiration from real-world art and literature, with its title referencing the Clair Obscur artistic movement of 17th-18th century France and its story influenced by the novel La Horde du Contrevent. Broche emphasized the game’s focus on high-fidelity visuals and its innovative reactive turn-based battle system. Drawing influence from Souls games, Devil May Cry, and NieR, the game aims to modernize turn-based RPG combat.
