Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Updates

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 News

2025

April 3

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers PC players a wide range of graphical presets, from Low to Epic, ensuring optimal performance and visual quality. Console players can choose between Performance and Quality modes, enhancing their gaming experience based on preference. The game is confirmed to be PS5 Pro Enhanced, though specific details on the enhancements remain under wraps. Xbox users can now pre-load the game in anticipation of its global launch on April 24 at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET. Players can look forward to unlocking 56 achievements and trophies, which include challenging tasks like defeating bosses without taking damage and collecting 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 made the bold choice to exclude a minimap from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, opting instead for a compass to guide players. Producer Francois Meurisse explained that this decision encourages exploration and aligns with the game's narrative theme of venturing into the unknown. The compass reflects the game's story, where players join an expedition following the paths of previous explorers who did not return. "They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed," Meurisse noted, emphasizing the game's immersive approach to discovery.

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 his passion for turn-based RPGs, which led him to initiate the project in 2019. His hunger for new experiences in this genre inspired him to create a game that others would enjoy. Drawing from classics like Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and FromSoftware's Sekiro, Broche aimed to blend strategic combat with skill-based mechanics, offering a fresh take on the genre.

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 highlighted the unique blend of turn-based strategy and challenging, off-rhythm enemy attacks in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Rooted in JRPG traditions, the game stands out with its Belle Epoque-inspired art style, showcasing Sandfall Interactive's vision for a visually and mechanically distinct experience. The game draws inspiration from classic Final Fantasy titles, while integrating real-time defensive mechanics from Sekiro and action point-based skills reminiscent of deckbuilders.

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

March 3

⚫︎ Gaming news outlets were given the opportunity to play demos of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ahead of its release, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The game's turn-based combat system was praised as an evolution, skillfully combining elements from the best JRPGs before it, offering a fresh and engaging experience.

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 official release, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to hit the big screen. Developer Sandfall Interactive has teamed up with Story Kitchen, known for projects like Sonic and the upcoming Dredge movie, to bring the game to life as a live-action film. While details on the director and cast are pending, producers Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Elena Sandoval are on board. Story Kitchen is eager to transform the game's rich narrative and intricate characters into a cinematic experience.

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 influences from Final Fantasy VIII-X, Persona, and Octopath Traveler. As a dedicated fan of the genre, Broche aimed to create a game with high-fidelity graphics that combines real-time reaction-based combat with strategic depth. Players can switch party members in the open world and use traversal abilities to solve puzzles. Overwhelmed by the positive reception, Broche hopes players will "break the game" with innovative builds, leaving a lasting impact similar to the RPGs that influenced its creation.

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 draws inspiration from real-world art and literature, specifically referencing the 17th-18th century French Clair Obscur artistic movement and the novel La Horde du Contrevent. The game focuses on high-fidelity visuals and introduces an innovative reactive turn-based battle system. Influenced by games like Souls, Devil May Cry, and NieR, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 seeks to modernize the traditional turn-based RPG combat.

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