Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 News

2025

April 3

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers PC players a variety of graphical presets ranging from Low to Epic, while console users can select between Performance and Quality modes. The game is officially PS5 Pro Enhanced, though specific details about the enhancements remain undisclosed. Xbox players can 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, including 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 not feature a minimap, instead opting for a compass to guide navigation. Producer Francois Meurisse explained that this choice was made to encourage exploration over reliance on UI elements. This decision aligns with the game's narrative, where players join an expedition into the unknown, following in the footsteps of past explorers who did not succeed. "They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed," Meurisse stated, emphasizing the sense of being lost and uncertain that players should experience.

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

March 21

⚫︎ Guillaume Broche, director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, began developing the game in 2019 as a passion project, driven by his desire for new turn-based RPGs. Inspired by Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and FromSoftware's Sekiro, Broche aimed to create a game that combines strategic combat with skill-based mechanics.

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 discussed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's unique blend 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, reflecting Sandfall Interactive's aim to deliver a visually and mechanically distinct experience. The game draws inspiration from classic Final Fantasy titles and includes real-time defensive mechanics inspired by Sekiro, along with action point-based skills reminiscent of deckbuilders.

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

March 3

⚫︎ Gaming media outlets have had the opportunity to play demos of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 before its release, and many have praised the game's innovative turn-based combat system. It is seen as an evolution and amalgamation of the best elements from its predecessors.

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 release, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to be adapted into a movie. Sandfall Interactive has partnered with Story Kitchen, the studio behind projects like Sonic and the upcoming Dredge movie. Although no director or cast has been announced yet, the project will be led by producers Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Elena Sandoval. 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 (GameRant)

2024

August 29

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is heavily influenced by classic turn-based RPGs, with creative director Guillaume Broche citing Final Fantasy VIII-X, Persona, and Octopath Traveler as key inspirations. As a fan of the genre, Broche wanted to create a turn-based RPG 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. Broche hopes that players will experiment and "break the game" with creative builds, and the development team aims 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 (Game8)

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 from 17th-18th century France and its narrative influenced by the novel La Horde du Contrevent. The game focuses on high-fidelity visuals and introduces an innovative reactive turn-based battle system. It takes cues from Souls games, Devil May Cry, and NieR, aiming to modernize the turn-based RPG combat experience.

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