The creative director of the critically acclaimed RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has admitted that the game’s overwhelming success has taken the development team by surprise, stating it “was not supposed to be big.”
Speaking to Radio Times Gaming, Guillaume Broche shared his astonishment at the game’s reception. “I think people don’t really realize that, now it’s become big, but before the launch, it was not supposed to be big,” Broche explained. “I think we all felt the same thing. It’s going to be cool. It’s not going to be big, it’s going to be cool.”
The sentiment is echoed by Ben Starr, the voice actor for Verso. “It was never intended to be as big as it is,” Starr commented. “It’s turned into this kind of cultural moment, phenomenon, but that’s just because the game is very honest, I think. And a lot of people have bought into that.” He added, “I don’t think anyone expected this because it’s a small game. No one expected those numbers, and we’ve all just been messaging each other thinking, this is, well, this is just silly.”
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launched on April 24 for PC and consoles, debuting day-one on Xbox Game Pass. The game has since achieved remarkable milestones, selling over 5 million copies in just five months and becoming one of the year’s biggest hits.
Further cementing its status, the RPG garnered a record-breaking 12 nominations at The Game Awards, including nods for Best Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, Best Audio, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Independent Game, Best RPG, and the prestigious Game of the Year award. Three of its performers are also nominated for Best Performance.
Why This Success Matters
The unexpected triumph of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 underscores a significant trend in the gaming industry: the power of honest, well-crafted experiences to resonate deeply with players, regardless of initial budget or perceived market potential. While AAA titles often dominate headlines, this RPG’s journey from a