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 settings, ranging from Low to Epic, ensuring a customizable experience. Console gamers can opt for either Performance or Quality modes. The game is optimized for the PS5 Pro, though detailed specifications remain undisclosed. Xbox users can now pre-load the game in anticipation of its worldwide release on April 24 at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET. Players can look forward to earning 56 achievements and trophies, with challenges such as 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 announced that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will forego a minimap, choosing a compass to guide players. This decision, as explained by producer Francois Meurisse, is designed to promote exploration over reliance on user interface elements. This choice also enriches the game's narrative, where players join an expedition into uncharted territories, echoing the journeys of past explorers who did not succeed. Meurisse emphasized, "They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed," highlighting the immersive experience of feeling as lost as the 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, started the project in 2019 driven by his craving for new turn-based RPGs. His vision was to blend strategic combat with skill-based mechanics, drawing inspiration from iconic titles like Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and FromSoftware's Sekiro. Broche's passion project aims to fill a niche he believed existed among 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 shared insights into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's unique gameplay, merging turn-based strategy with challenging, off-rhythm enemy attacks. Rooted in JRPG traditions, the game stands out with its Belle Epoque-inspired visuals, showcasing Sandfall Interactive’s ambition to create a distinctive experience. The title combines elements from classic Final Fantasy games, incorporates real-time defensive mechanics from Sekiro, and introduces action point-based skills reminiscent of deckbuilders.

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

March 3

⚫︎ Before its official launch, gaming media outlets had the chance to experience playable demos of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Critics were impressed by the game's turn-based combat system, which they praised as an evolution and a homage to the best JRPGs of the past.

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 hitting the shelves, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set for a movie adaptation. Sandfall Interactive has teamed up with Story Kitchen, known for bringing games like Sonic and the upcoming Dredge to the big screen. Although no director or cast has been revealed yet, the project is in capable hands with producers Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Elena Sandoval. Story Kitchen is eager to bring the game's intricate narrative and characters to life on film.

Read more: Clair Obscur is Getting Its Own Live-Action Movie

2024

August 29

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is deeply influenced by classic turn-based RPGs, with creative director Guillaume Broche drawing inspiration from Final Fantasy VIII-X, Persona, and Octopath Traveler. As a passionate fan of the genre, Broche aimed to craft a turn-based RPG with stunning graphics, integrating real-time reaction-based combat with strategic elements. Players can switch party members in the open world and use traversal abilities to solve puzzles. Broche expressed his excitement about the game's reception, hoping players will experiment with creative builds. The team aspires for Expedition 33 to have a lasting impact, similar to the RPGs that influenced them.

Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wears Its FF and Persona Influences on Its Sleeves

July 30

⚫︎ Guillaume Broche, the creative director, revealed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws from real-world art and literature. The game's title references the 17th-18th century French artistic movement Clair Obscur, and its storyline is inspired by the novel La Horde du Contrevent. Broche highlighted the game's emphasis on high-fidelity visuals and its innovative reactive turn-based combat system. Influences from Souls games, Devil May Cry, and NieR contribute to modernizing the traditional turn-based RPG experience.

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