Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Updates

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 News

2025

April 3

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to provide PC players with a variety of graphical options, ranging from Low to Epic settings, while console gamers can choose between Performance and Quality modes. Notably, the game has been confirmed as PS5 Pro Enhanced, although specific details on the enhancements are yet to be revealed. Xbox enthusiasts 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, challenging players to conquer bosses without taking damage and to collect 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 forego a minimap in favor of a compass, promoting a deeper sense of exploration. Producer Francois Meurisse explained that this choice enhances the narrative experience, as players embark on an expedition into the unknown, mirroring the journeys of previous explorers who lacked maps. "They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed," Meurisse noted, aiming to immerse players in the same uncertainty faced by their in-game characters.

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, shared that his passion for turn-based RPGs led him to initiate the project in 2019. Inspired by classics like Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and FromSoftware's Sekiro, Broche sought to craft a game that blends strategic combat with skill-based mechanics, fulfilling his own desires and those of other 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

⚫︎ Producer Francois Meurisse recently highlighted Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's innovative approach to turn-based strategy, featuring challenging and unpredictable enemy attacks. While rooted in JRPG traditions, the game sets itself apart with its Belle Epoque-inspired art style. Sandfall Interactive aims to deliver a visually and mechanically unique experience, drawing from Final Fantasy, Sekiro's real-time defensive mechanics, and the action point systems of deckbuilders.

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

March 3

⚫︎ Ahead of its release, gaming media have had the chance to experience playable demos of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and many have praised the game's turn-based combat system as a fresh evolution of the genre. It pays homage to the great JRPGs while introducing new elements.

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 projects like Sonic and the upcoming Dredge film. Although no director or cast has been announced yet, producers Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Elena Sandoval are on board. 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 draws significant inspiration from classic turn-based RPGs, with creative director Guillaume Broche citing Final Fantasy VIII-X, Persona, and Octopath Traveler as major influences. Broche, a dedicated fan of the genre, aimed to create a turn-based RPG with high-fidelity graphics and a blend of real-time, reaction-based combat with strategic depth. Players will have the ability to switch party members in the open world and utilize traversal abilities for puzzle-solving. Overwhelmed by the positive reception, Broche hopes players will experiment with creative builds to "break the game." The development team aspires for Expedition 33 to have a lasting impact, similar to the RPGs that inspired them.

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 is inspired by real-world art and literature, with its name referencing the 17th-18th century French artistic movement known as Clair Obscur and its story influenced by the novel La Horde du Contrevent. Broche emphasized the game's commitment to high-fidelity visuals and its innovative reactive turn-based battle system, drawing influences from Souls games, Devil May Cry, and NieR to modernize RPG combat.

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