"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Director Turns Boredom into 2025 GotY Hopeful"

Discover how boredom at Ubisoft led to the creation of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the highest-rated game of 2025. Dive into the story of how Sandfall Interactive was formed and the unique journey of its development.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Made Out of Boredom

Doing Something Different

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly become an iconic title, earning the title of the highest-rated game of 2025 and selling over 1 million copies within just three days. What's intriguing is that this game, a favorite for Game of the Year, was born from a moment of boredom and a desire to innovate.

In an insightful interview with BBC News on May 4, the developers at Sandfall Interactive shared the origins of the game. Director Guillaume Broche disclosed that the project began as a way to combat his restlessness while working at Ubisoft during the peak of the 2020 pandemic. Inspired by his lifelong love for the JRPG series Final Fantasy, Broche set out to create a game that would fulfill his creative vision, starting his journey on Reddit.

A Stroke of Luck

To bring his vision to life, Broche reached out through Reddit and online forums, seeking like-minded individuals to join his team. His concept of Expedition 33, featuring classic turn-based gameplay set in the Belle Époque era, didn't initially attract widespread excitement. Nevertheless, Broche's persistence paid off.

While under lockdown in Australia, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen stumbled upon one of Broche's posts on Reddit. Intrigued by the opportunity to voice act, she auditioned and was initially cast for a major character role. Her involvement soon expanded, and she became the lead writer for Expedition 33.

Broche eventually left Ubisoft to dedicate himself fully to Expedition 33, founding Sandfall Interactive. With funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the team grew to around 30 members, many of whom were recruited through unconventional channels. Composer Lorien Testard, for example, joined after connecting through Soundcloud.

Kepler Interactive's support also enabled the team to collaborate with renowned actors like Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI), Jennifer English (Baldur's Gate 3), and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings), enhancing the game's appeal.

Despite the team's growth, Broche and Svedberg-Yen emphasized the diverse roles they played during development. Svedberg-Yen, for instance, also managed translations into various languages. Broche praised the team, noting, "We have, I think, an amazing team mostly of junior people but they are so incredibly invested in the project and talented."

The origin story of Expedition 33 is as captivating as the game itself. Driven by boredom and bolstered by a bit of luck, Sandfall Interactive crafted a game that promises to be cherished for generations. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest updates on the game, be sure to check out our article below!