Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Latest Updates

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 News

2025

April 3

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers PC players a variety of graphical settings, ranging from Low to Epic, ensuring a customizable experience. Console players can choose between Performance and Quality modes, with the game confirmed to be optimized for the PS5 Pro, though specific details remain under wraps. Xbox enthusiasts can now pre-load the game in anticipation of its global launch on April 24 at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET. The game will feature 56 achievements and trophies, challenging players with tasks such as defeating bosses without taking damage and collecting all 33 music records.

March 24

⚫︎ Sandfall Interactive has announced that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will not include a minimap, opting for a compass to enhance the exploration aspect of the game. Producer Francois Meurisse explained that this choice aligns with the game's narrative, where players join an expedition into the unknown, mirroring the journey of previous explorers who failed. "They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed," Meurisse stated, emphasizing the game's immersive and uncertain atmosphere.

March 21

⚫︎ Director Guillaume Broche of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 shared that his passion for new turn-based RPGs fueled the project's inception in 2019. Inspired by classics like Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and FromSoftware's Sekiro, Broche aimed to create a game that blends strategic combat with skill-based mechanics, catering to fans yearning for innovative experiences in the genre.

March 19

⚫︎ Producer Francois Meurisse highlighted Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's unique combination of turn-based strategy and challenging, off-rhythm enemy attacks. Rooted in JRPG traditions, the game stands out with its Belle Epoque-inspired art style, a nod to Sandfall Interactive's French heritage. The game draws from classic Final Fantasy titles while incorporating real-time defensive mechanics from Sekiro and action point-based skills from deckbuilders, promising a fresh yet familiar experience.

March 3

⚫︎ Media outlets had the opportunity to play demos of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 before its release, praising its evolution of turn-based combat. The game pays homage to iconic JRPGs while introducing new mechanics that set it apart, earning high acclaim from critics.

January 30

⚫︎ Even before its launch, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to hit the big screen, with Sandfall Interactive partnering with Story Kitchen, the studio behind projects like Sonic and the upcoming Dredge movie. While details on the director and cast remain undisclosed, producers Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Elena Sandoval are on board. Story Kitchen is eager to bring the game's compelling narrative and intricate characters to life in a cinematic format.

2024

August 29

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 heavily draws from classic turn-based RPGs, with creative director Guillaume Broche citing influences from Final Fantasy VIII-X, Persona, and Octopath Traveler. Aiming to blend high-fidelity graphics with real-time reaction-based combat and strategic depth, the game allows players to switch party members in the open world and use traversal abilities to solve puzzles. Broche hopes players will "break the game" with creative builds, aspiring for Expedition 33 to leave a lasting impact on the genre.

July 30

⚫︎ Creative director Guillaume Broche revealed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is inspired by real-world art and literature, with its title referencing the Clair Obscur artistic movement from 17th-18th century France and its story influenced by the novel La Horde du Contrevent. The game aims to combine high-fidelity visuals with an innovative reactive turn-based battle system, drawing from influences like Souls games, Devil May Cry, and NieR to modernize RPG combat.