Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has made a remarkable entrance into the gaming world, with its launch remaining unaffected by the sudden release of Oblivion Remastered. According to Kepler Interactive, the game’s publisher, they believe that the presence of both titles actually drew more attention to the RPG genre. Kepler observed, “I think it just drew attention to quality RPGs that week and everybody was thinking and talking about the genre.”
In terms of performance, Expedition 33 has outperformed Oblivion in global sales. This turn-based RPG, developed by indie studio Sandfall Interactive, is set in a dark fantasy Belle Époque world where players join a group tasked with defeating a mysterious being known as the Paintress.
Following its launch, the game received its first post-launch update, patch 1.2.2, addressing several issues including inventory glitches and soft-locking bugs. The game artfully builds its narrative through subtle dialogue, avoiding heavy exposition. Though Oblivion Remastered was quietly released just over a week ago, fans had anticipated the news after ongoing leaks and speculation about its development. Such surprise launches typically raise concerns for competing games on the release calendar, including Expedition 33, which came out shortly after.
However, Kepler confirmed that Oblivion’s launch “didn’t seem to harm us at all.” They reiterated that both games’ releases spotlighted the RPG genre, benefiting all involved. Moreover, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not only gaining traction in sales but has recently boasted a higher concurrent player count on Steam than Oblivion Remastered. In an interview, senior portfolio director Matt Handrahan discussed the unique appeal of Expedition 33, noting its blend of Western and Japanese RPG styles, which cater to different gaming audiences. Looking to the future, there are hints that DLC may be in the works, with the team considering additional content if demand exists from players.
Sandfall is eager to explore the other expeditions mentioned in the game’s narrative for potential expansions.