Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 News
2025
April 3
⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to offer PC players a variety of graphical settings, ranging from Low to Epic, while console gamers can choose between Performance and Quality modes. The game is confirmed to be enhanced for PS5 Pro, although specific details about these enhancements remain undisclosed. Xbox enthusiasts can now pre-load the game in anticipation of its global launch on April 24 at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET. The game will feature 56 achievements and trophies, including challenges like defeating bosses without taking damage and collecting all 33 music records.
Read more: [Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Reveals Graphics Settings, Trophy Expectations, and Xbox Pre-Load Info Ahead of Launch](Noisy Pixel)
March 24
⚫︎ Sandfall Interactive has revealed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will not feature a minimap, instead utilizing a compass to guide navigation. This decision, as explained by producer Francois Meurisse, aims to enhance the sense of exploration and discovery, encouraging players to engage more deeply with the game world. The absence of a map ties directly into the narrative, where players join an expedition into uncharted territories, mirroring the journeys of past explorers who vanished. "They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed," Meurisse stated, emphasizing the feeling of venturing into the unknown.
Read more: [Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won't have a mini map to preserve its sense of discovery, says producer](PC Gamer)
March 21
⚫︎ The director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Guillaume Broche, initiated the project in 2019 out of a deep passion for turn-based RPGs. Feeling a lack of new titles in the genre, Broche drew inspiration from classics like Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and FromSoftware's Sekiro. His goal was to create a game that combines strategic combat with skill-based mechanics, catering to fans hungry for innovative turn-based experiences.
Read more: [Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's director was 'starving for new turn-based RPGs,' and figured if he wanted them, there would be others out there who'd want to play his game](PC Gamer)
March 19
⚫︎ In a recent interview, producer Francois Meurisse detailed how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 blends turn-based strategy with unique, off-rhythm enemy attacks. While rooted in JRPG traditions, the game stands out with its Belle Epoque-inspired art style, a nod to the French developer Sandfall Interactive's vision of a visually and mechanically distinctive experience. The game draws inspiration from classic Final Fantasy titles, integrating real-time defensive mechanics reminiscent of Sekiro and action point-based skills inspired by deckbuilders.
Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is Sekiro Meets Belle Époque Meets JRPG
March 3
⚫︎ Ahead of its release, gaming media were given the opportunity to play demos of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Critics praised the game's turn-based combat as a sophisticated evolution of the genre, paying homage to legendary JRPGs while introducing fresh mechanics.
Read more: [How Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s turn-based combat pays homage to all-time great JRPGs](Epic Games Store News)
January 30
⚫︎ Even before its launch, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is slated for a movie adaptation. Sandfall Interactive has teamed up with Story Kitchen, known for their work on game-to-film projects such as Sonic and the upcoming Dredge movie. Although no director or cast has been announced, the project is being led by producers Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Elena Sandoval. Story Kitchen is eager to bring the game's compelling narrative and intricate characters to the big screen.
Read more: Clair Obscur is Getting Its Own Live-Action Movie
2024
August 29
⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws significant inspiration from classic turn-based RPGs, with creative director Guillaume Broche citing influences from Final Fantasy VIII-X, Persona, and Octopath Traveler. As a devoted fan of the genre, Broche aimed to craft a turn-based RPG with stunning graphics, merging real-time reaction-based combat with deep strategic elements. Players can switch party members in the open world and use traversal abilities to solve puzzles. Broche has been delighted with the game's reception and hopes players will experiment with innovative builds to "break the game." The development team aspires for Expedition 33 to have a lasting impact, akin to the RPGs that inspired them.
Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wears Its FF and Persona Influences on Its Sleeves
July 30
⚫︎ Creative director Guillaume Broche revealed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws inspiration from real-world art and literature, with its title referencing the Clair Obscur artistic movement of 17th-18th century France and its story inspired by the novel La Horde du Contrevent. Broche highlighted the game's emphasis on high-fidelity visuals and its innovative reactive turn-based battle system, which takes cues from Souls games, Devil May Cry, and NieR. The goal is to bring a modern twist to the traditional turn-based RPG combat.
Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Historical Roots and Innovations
