Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Update

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 News

2025

April 3

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers PC players a variety of graphical settings, ranging from Low to Epic, while console users can select between Performance and Quality modes. The game has been confirmed to be PS5 Pro Enhanced, although specific details remain undisclosed. Xbox players 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 such as 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 decided that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will not feature a minimap, instead opting for a compass to guide navigation. Producer Francois Meurisse explained that this choice aims to enhance exploration and reduce reliance on UI elements. This design decision is also integral to the game's narrative, where players join an expedition into the unknown, mirroring the experiences of past explorers who failed. "They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed," Meurisse noted, emphasizing the sense of uncertainty and discovery.

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, started the project in 2019, driven by his passion for new turn-based RPGs. Inspired by classics like Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and FromSoftware's Sekiro, Broche aimed to blend strategic combat with skill-based mechanics to create a unique gaming experience.

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

⚫︎ Producer Francois Meurisse highlighted Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's distinctive mix of turn-based strategy and challenging, off-rhythm enemy attacks. While the game honors JRPG traditions, it stands out with its Belle Epoque-inspired art style. Sandfall Interactive seeks to deliver a visually and mechanically unique experience, drawing inspiration from classic Final Fantasy titles and incorporating real-time defensive mechanics from Sekiro and action point-based skills reminiscent of deckbuilders.

Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is Sekiro Meets Belle Époque Meets JRPG (Game8)

March 3

⚫︎ Ahead of its release, playable demos of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 were provided to gaming media, who praised the game's innovative turn-based combat system. It was lauded as an evolution and amalgamation of the best elements from its predecessors in the JRPG genre.

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 set to be adapted into a movie. Sandfall Interactive has teamed up with Story Kitchen, known for their work on game-to-film projects like Sonic and the upcoming Dredge movie. Though no director or cast has been announced yet, 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 (GameRant)

2024

August 29

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is heavily influenced by classic turn-based RPGs, with creative director Guillaume Broche drawing inspiration from Final Fantasy VIII-X, Persona, and Octopath Traveler. As a dedicated fan of the genre, Broche set out to create a turn-based RPG with stunning graphics, integrating real-time reaction-based combat with strategic depth. Players can switch party members in the open world and utilize traversal abilities to tackle puzzles. Broche was thrilled with the game's warm reception and hopes that players will experiment and "break the game" with creative builds, aiming to leave a lasting impact similar to the RPGs that inspired him.

Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wears Its FF and Persona Influences on Its Sleeves (Game8)

July 30

⚫︎ Creative director Guillaume Broche revealed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws inspiration from real-world art and literature. The game's title references the 17th-18th century French artistic movement known as Clair Obscur, and its narrative is influenced by the novel La Horde du Contrevent. Broche highlighted the game's commitment to high-fidelity visuals and its innovative reactive turn-based battle system, taking cues from Souls games, Devil May Cry, and NieR to modernize the genre.

Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Historical Roots and Innovations (Game8)