Clair Obscur Publisher Lauds Oblivion Remastered for Elevating RPG Genre Interest

When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered alongside the debut of the role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many anticipated a clear winner. However, Kepler Interactive, the publisher of Clair Obscur, revealed that Oblivion’s launch not only posed no threat but actually amplified interest in Clair Obscur by fueling enthusiasm for RPGs.

Kepler Interactive’s senior portfolio manager, Matt Handrahan, shared insights with The Game Business about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s remarkable launch success despite the competition.

Some context: RPG enthusiasts faced a tough decision between diving into Oblivion’s Cyrodiil for hundreds of hours or joining the quest to defeat the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The simultaneous release of both games in the same week sparked excitement and frustration among RPG fans, prompting a playful remark from Kepler Interactive.

In a post on X/Twitter, Kepler shared a humorous image of Clair Obscur characters stepping through an Oblivion Gate, captioned "omg its like barbenheimer," referencing the 2023 simultaneous release of Barbie and Oppenheimer in theaters.

omg its like barbenheimer pic.twitter.com/TN1AFzdggc

— Kepler Interactive (@Kepler_Interact) April 22, 2025

Microsoft, which owns Bethesda (Oblivion’s developer) and had strongly supported Clair Obscur since its reveal at last year’s Xbox Showcase, faced criticism for releasing Oblivion alongside Clair Obscur, both as Game Pass day-one titles.

Handrahan, however, dismissed concerns. “We were confident in Expedition 33’s unique identity,” he said. “From my time in the press, I observed that Western and Japanese RPGs appeal to distinct audiences. Many Elder Scrolls players wouldn’t necessarily play Final Fantasy, and vice versa.

“By launch, we had built significant momentum and felt assured standing alongside Oblivion. Factors like our price point and Game Pass inclusion drove substantial interest. The outcome exceeded our expectations, and Oblivion’s proximity didn’t hurt us. In fact, it spotlighted high-quality RPGs that week, keeping the genre at the forefront of discussions.”

Which 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 Results

Clair Obscur has proven a major success for Kepler and its French developer, Sandfall Interactive, selling over 1 million copies in just three days and achieving strong concurrent player numbers on Steam. Its success even earned praise from French President Macron for the development team.

Bethesda reported that Oblivion Remastered attracted over 4 million players since its launch, though sales figures remain undisclosed. It also recorded impressive Steam concurrent player numbers.

Data from Ampere, cited by The Game Business, indicates that 35% of Clair Obscur players also engaged with Oblivion Remastered, highlighting significant overlap, largely due to both titles launching on Game Pass. This overlap was less pronounced among Steam and PlayStation 5 players.

Explore more on Oblivion Remastered, including a report on a player who ventured beyond Cyrodiil to explore Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell, the rumored setting of The Elder Scrolls VI.

Discover our detailed guide to Oblivion Remastered, featuring an extensive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and all Guild Quests, How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and more.

For Clair Obscur, don’t miss our essential tips to know before diving into the game.