Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Updates

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 News

2025

April 3

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to offer PC players a diverse range of graphical presets from Low to Epic, while console gamers can select between Performance and Quality modes. The game has been confirmed as PS5 Pro Enhanced, 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. Players will have the chance to earn 56 achievements and trophies, including challenging tasks 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

March 24

⚫︎ Sandfall Interactive has announced that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will forego a minimap, instead utilizing a compass to guide players. Producer Francois Meurisse explained that this choice is designed to enhance exploration and reflect the game's narrative of venturing into the unknown, following the paths of unsuccessful past explorers. "They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed," Meurisse noted, emphasizing the immersive experience of feeling as lost and uncertain as the characters in the game.

Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won't have a mini map to preserve its sense of discovery, says producer

March 21

⚫︎ The director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Guillaume Broche, shared that his passion for new turn-based RPGs led him to start the project in 2019. Inspired by classics like Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and FromSoftware's Sekiro, Broche aimed to create a game that combines strategic combat with skill-based mechanics, fulfilling a niche he felt was missing in the market.

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

March 19

⚫︎ Producer Francois Meurisse discussed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's unique mix 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, showcasing Sandfall Interactive's vision for a visually and mechanically distinct experience. The game draws 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

March 3

⚫︎ Ahead of its release, gaming media were given playable demos of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and many praised the game's turn-based combat as a fresh evolution of the genre, paying homage to iconic JRPGs while introducing new elements.

Read more: How Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s turn-based combat pays homage to all-time great JRPGs

January 30

⚫︎ Even before its release, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to be adapted into a movie. Sandfall Interactive has teamed up with Story Kitchen, known for projects like Sonic and the upcoming Dredge movie. While details on the director and cast are yet to be announced, producers Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Elena Sandoval are on board. Story Kitchen is eager to bring the game's rich narrative and complex characters to the big screen.

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

2024

August 29

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws significant inspiration from classic turn-based RPGs, with creative director Guillaume Broche citing Final Fantasy VIII-X, Persona, and Octopath Traveler as key influences. As a fan of the genre, Broche aimed to create a turn-based RPG with high-fidelity graphics, blending real-time reaction-based combat with strategic depth. Players can switch party members in the open world and use traversal abilities to solve puzzles. Broche was thrilled by the game's positive reception and hopes players will "break the game" with creative builds, aspiring for Expedition 33 to leave a lasting impact similar to the RPGs that inspired it.

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

July 30

⚫︎ Creative director Guillaume Broche revealed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws inspiration from real-world art and literature, with its title referencing the Clair Obscur artistic movement of 17th-18th century France and its story influenced by the novel La Horde du Contrevent. Broche highlighted the game's focus on high-fidelity visuals and its innovative reactive turn-based battle system, drawing influence from Souls games, Devil May Cry, and NieR to modernize the genre.

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