"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Publisher Praises Oblivion Remastered's Surprise Release"

When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered alongside the launch of the role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many believed that only one game would emerge as the winner. However, according to Kepler Interactive, the publisher of Clair Obscur, not only did Oblivion not negatively impact Clair Obscur, but it actually enhanced the excitement for the RPG genre, benefiting Clair Obscur's launch.

Matt Handrahan, senior portfolio manager at Kepler Interactive, shared insights with The Game Business about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's successful launch despite the competition. RPG enthusiasts faced a tough decision: dive into hundreds of hours in Oblivion's Cyrodiil or embark on an expedition to defeat the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The simultaneous release of these games sparked a mix of excitement and frustration among fans, prompting a witty response from Kepler Interactive on X/Twitter. They posted an edited image of Clair Obscur characters entering an Oblivion Gate, captioned "omg its like barbenheimer," humorously referencing the concurrent release of the films Barbie and Oppenheimer in 2023.

omg its like barbenheimer pic.twitter.com/TN1AFzdggc

— Kepler Interactive (@Kepler_Interact) April 22, 2025

Microsoft, which owns Bethesda and had heavily supported Clair Obscur since its reveal at an Xbox Showcase the previous year, faced criticism for shadow-dropping Oblivion on the same day as Clair Obscur, especially since both games were available on Game Pass from day one.

However, Handrahan reassured that there was no cause for concern. "We always knew that Expedition 33 had a very specific identity," he explained. "When I was in the press, I saw the Western-style RPG and the Japanese-style RPG as having quite different appeals and audiences. I knew plenty of people that would play an Elder Scrolls game that wouldn't necessarily play Final Fantasy and vice versa.

"Also, by the time that we rolled around, we had momentum of our own and we felt pretty confident that we could stand beside it. I think there were other aspects, like the price point we were at and the inclusion in Game Pass… so we knew we would have a lot of interest around the game. We were confident in that. And it went as well as it possibly could have done in our eyes. And, actually, proximity to Oblivion didn't seem to harm us at all. In many ways, I think it just drew attention to quality RPGs that week and everybody was thinking and talking about the genre."

Did You Play The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or Both? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion RemasteredClair Obscur: Expedition 33Both

AnswerSee ResultsClair Obscur has become a major success for Kepler and its French developer, Sandfall Interactive, selling over 1 million copies in just three days and achieving impressive concurrent player numbers on Steam. The game's success has even earned praise from French President Macron for the development team.

Bethesda announced that Oblivion Remastered has attracted over 4 million players since its launch, though specific sales figures have not been disclosed. It, too, has seen significant concurrent player numbers on Steam.

The Game Business cited data from Ampere showing that 35% of Clair Obscur players also played Oblivion Remastered, indicating a substantial overlap. This overlap is largely attributed to both games being available on Game Pass, with the percentage decreasing among Steam and PlayStation 5 players.

For more on Oblivion Remastered, check out our report on a player who managed to escape Cyrodiil to explore Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell, the rumored setting of The Elder Scrolls VI.

We also offer a comprehensive guide to everything in Oblivion Remastered, including an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and much more.

For Clair Obscur, be sure to check out our tips for the important things to know before heading into the game.