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When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered during the launch week of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many believed that the latter would be overshadowed. However, Kepler Interactive's senior portfolio manager, Matt Handrahan, shared with The Game Business that not only did Oblivion fail to harm Clair Obscur, but it actually enhanced the excitement around the RPG genre, benefiting Clair Obscur in the process.
To understand this better, let's dive into the context. RPG enthusiasts were faced with the challenging decision of immersing themselves in the expansive world of Cyrodiil in Oblivion or embarking on the thrilling adventure to confront the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The simultaneous release of these two titles sparked a mix of excitement and frustration among fans, as well as a witty remark from Kepler Interactive.
On X/Twitter, Kepler posted a playful image of Clair Obscur characters entering an Oblivion Gate, captioned "omg its like barbenheimer," humorously referencing the concurrent 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, which owns Bethesda and had significantly supported Clair Obscur since its reveal at an Xbox Showcase, faced criticism for the shadow-drop of Oblivion on the same day Clair Obscur launched, with both games available on Game Pass from day one.
Despite these concerns, Handrahan expressed confidence in Clair Obscur's unique appeal. He noted, "We always knew that Expedition 33 had a very specific identity. 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.
"Also, by the time that we rolled around, we had momentum of our own and we felt pretty confident that we could stand beside it. I think there were other aspects, like the price point we were at and the inclusion in Game Pass... so we knew we would have a lot of interest around the game. We were confident in that. And it went as well as it possibly could have done in our eyes. And, actually, proximity to Oblivion didn't seem to harm us at all. In many ways, I think it just drew attention to quality RPGs that week and everybody was thinking and talking about the genre."
AnswerSee ResultsClair Obscur has proven to be a resounding success for Kepler and its French developer, Sandfall Interactive, selling over 1 million copies in just three days and boasting impressive concurrent player numbers on Steam. The game's success even garnered praise from French President Macron.Bethesda reported that Oblivion Remastered attracted over 4 million players since its launch, though sales figures remain undisclosed. It, too, has seen significant concurrent player numbers on Steam.
The Game Business cited data from Ampere, indicating that 35% of Clair Obscur players also played Oblivion Remastered, showing a substantial overlap. This is largely attributed to both games being available on Game Pass, with the overlap decreasing among Steam and PlayStation 5 players.
For more on *Oblivion Remastered*, check out our report on a player who managed to escape the confines of Cyrodiil to explore Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell, the rumored setting of *The Elder Scrolls VI*.We also offer a comprehensive guide to everything in Oblivion Remastered, including an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and much more.
For those interested in Clair Obscur, be sure to check out our tips for the important things to know before diving into the game.
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