When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered during the launch week of the role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many assumed that Oblivion would overshadow its competitor. However, Kepler Interactive's senior portfolio manager, Matt Handrahan, shared with The Game Business that not only did Oblivion not negatively impact Clair Obscur, but it actually enhanced the excitement around the RPG genre, benefiting Clair Obscur.

RPG enthusiasts were faced with a challenging decision: dive into the expansive world of Cyrodiil in Oblivion or embark on a unique adventure to confront the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The simultaneous release of these games sparked a mix of joy and frustration among fans, prompting a witty response from Kepler Interactive on social media. They posted an edited image on X/Twitter showing characters from Clair Obscur entering an Oblivion Gate, captioned with "omg its like barbenheimer," playfully referencing the concurrent release of the films Barbie and Oppenheimer in 2023.

omg its like barbenheimer pic.twitter.com/TN1AFzdggc

— Kepler Interactive (@Kepler_Interact) April 22, 2025

Microsoft, the owner of Bethesda and a significant supporter of Clair Obscur since its showcase at an Xbox event, faced criticism for the shadow-drop of Oblivion on the same day both games became available on Game Pass.

Handrahan, however, remained confident in Clair Obscur's unique appeal. He noted the distinct differences between Western and Japanese-style RPGs, suggesting that fans of one genre might not necessarily be fans of the other. He emphasized Clair Obscur's established momentum, competitive pricing, and inclusion in Game Pass as factors that positioned it well against Oblivion. "We were confident in that," Handrahan stated, "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."

Clair Obscur has proven to be a major success for Kepler Interactive and its developer, Sandfall Interactive, selling over 1 million copies within three days and achieving high concurrent player numbers on Steam. The game's success even earned praise from French President Macron for the development team.

Meanwhile, Bethesda reported that Oblivion Remastered has attracted over 4 million players since its launch, though specific sales figures remain undisclosed. It, too, has seen significant concurrent player numbers on Steam.

Data from Ampere, cited by The Game Business, indicates that 35% of Clair Obscur players also engaged with Oblivion Remastered, highlighting a notable crossover, particularly among Game Pass users. This overlap decreases among Steam and PlayStation 5 players.

For Clair Obscur, be sure to [check out our tips for the important things to know before] heading into the game.