Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 News

2025

April 3

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to provide PC players with a variety of graphical settings, ranging from Low to Epic. Console enthusiasts can choose between Performance and Quality modes. Notably, the game will be PS5 Pro Enhanced, though detailed specifications remain undisclosed. Xbox users can start pre-loading the game in anticipation of its global launch on April 24 at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET. The game promises an engaging experience with 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 announced that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will forgo a minimap in favor of a compass, promoting a deeper sense of exploration. Producer Francois Meurisse shared that this choice aligns with the game's narrative, where players join an expedition into the unknown, mirroring the journeys of past explorers who left no maps behind. "They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed," Meurisse explained, aiming to immerse players in the uncertainty and adventure of the game's world.

Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won't have a mini map to preserve its sense of discovery, says producer (PC Gamer)

March 21

⚫︎ Guillaume Broche, the director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, embarked on this project driven by a passion for turn-based RPGs. Feeling a void in the genre, Broche, inspired by classics like Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and FromSoftware's Sekiro, set out to blend strategic combat with skill-based mechanics, creating a game that would resonate with fellow RPG enthusiasts.

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 discussed how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 uniquely combines turn-based strategy with challenging, off-rhythm enemy attacks. Rooted in JRPG traditions, the game stands out with its Belle Epoque-inspired art style, a testament to Sandfall Interactive's aim to deliver a visually and mechanically distinct experience. Drawing from Final Fantasy and incorporating elements from Sekiro and deckbuilders, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 promises a fresh take on the genre.

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

March 3

⚫︎ Ahead of its release, gaming media had the chance to experience playable demos of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the game's turn-based combat as an innovative evolution of the genre, paying homage to the great JRPGs that came before it.

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 hitting the shelves, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to expand its universe with a live-action movie adaptation. Sandfall Interactive has teamed up with Story Kitchen, known for their work on game-to-film adaptations like Sonic and the upcoming Dredge movie. While details on the director and cast remain under wraps, the project is helmed by producers Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Elena Sandoval, who are eager to bring the game's narrative and characters to the big screen.

Read more: Clair Obscur is Getting Its Own Live-Action Movie (GameRant)

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. Aiming to push the boundaries of the genre, Broche has incorporated high-fidelity graphics, real-time reaction-based combat, and strategic depth into the game. Players will have the freedom to switch party members and use traversal abilities to solve puzzles. Broche expressed his hope that players will experiment with creative builds to "break the game," aspiring for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to leave a lasting impact similar to the RPGs that inspired it.

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 from the rich tapestry of real-world art and literature, with its name inspired by the Clair Obscur artistic movement of 17th-18th century France and its narrative influenced by the novel La Horde du Contrevent. The game aims to blend high-fidelity visuals with an innovative reactive turn-based battle system, drawing influences from Souls games, Devil May Cry, and NieR to modernize the RPG combat experience.

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