In a remarkable achievement, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sold an astounding 2 million copies just 12 days after its release. This surge in sales follows the game reaching the 1 million mark merely three days post-launch. Notably, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was launched simultaneously with Bethesda's Oblivion Remastered as a day-one Game Pass title, making this milestone even more impressive for the French developer Sandfall Interactive and publisher Kepler Interactive.
The game's success has been celebrated on social media with a heartfelt message from the developers: "We’ve watched in awe as so many of you began your journey. Feeling every step, every emotion, every revelation alongside you. To those just joining us: welcome. Tomorrow comes."
When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered alongside Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many anticipated a fierce competition. However, both games thrived, with Kepler Interactive noting that Clair Obscur benefited from the increased excitement for RPGs spurred by Oblivion's release.
Matt Handrahan, senior portfolio manager at Kepler Interactive, shared insights with The Game Business: "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."
The success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has garnered significant recognition, with French President Macron praising the development team. For those eager to dive into the game, be sure to check out our tips for the important things to know before embarking on your adventure.
AnswerSee Results