When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered during the launch week of the fellow role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many anticipated a clear winner. However, Kepler Interactive's senior portfolio manager, Matt Handrahan, shared with The Game Business that Clair Obscur not only held its ground but actually thrived due to the increased excitement surrounding the RPG genre spurred by Oblivion's release.

To provide some context, RPG enthusiasts faced a challenging decision: dive into hundreds of hours in Oblivion’s Cyrodiil or embark on the unique adventure to confront the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The simultaneous launch of these two games sparked a mix of excitement and frustration among fans, prompting a playful response from Kepler Interactive itself.

In a witty post on X/Twitter, Kepler shared an edited image featuring characters from Clair Obscur entering an Oblivion Gate, captioned "omg its like barbenheimer," humorously referencing the simultaneous 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, the owner of Bethesda and a significant supporter of Clair Obscur since its reveal at an Xbox Showcase, faced criticism for the shadow-drop of Oblivion coinciding with Clair Obscur's launch, especially since both were available on Game Pass from day one.

Despite these concerns, Handrahan remained confident. “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.

“Additionally, by the time we launched, we had our own momentum and felt confident that we could stand alongside Oblivion. Factors like our pricing strategy and inclusion in Game Pass helped us anticipate strong interest. We were confident in our approach, and the launch exceeded our expectations. Proximity to Oblivion didn't harm us; instead, it seemed to elevate the genre's visibility, drawing more attention to quality RPGs that week.”

Bethesda reported that Oblivion Remastered attracted over 4 million players since its launch, though specific sales figures were not disclosed. It also enjoyed significant concurrent player numbers on Steam.

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

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

As for Clair Obscur, be sure to review our tips for essential knowledge before diving into the game.