Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Latest Updates

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 News

2025

April 3

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will offer PC players a comprehensive range of graphical presets, from Low to Epic, allowing for customized visual experiences. Console players can choose between Performance and Quality modes. The game has been confirmed as PS5 Pro Enhanced, although specific details on the enhancements 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.

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 forego a traditional minimap, opting instead for a compass to guide players. This design choice, as explained by producer Francois Meurisse, aims to foster a genuine sense of exploration and immersion. The absence of a map aligns with the game's narrative, where players embark on an expedition into uncharted territories, mirroring the journeys of previous explorers who did not return. "They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed," Meurisse noted, emphasizing the game's theme of venturing into the unknown.

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

March 21

⚫︎ The director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Guillaume Broche, embarked on this project in 2019 driven by a deep passion for turn-based RPGs. Feeling a personal hunger for new experiences in the genre, Broche believed others would share his enthusiasm. The game draws inspiration from iconic titles like Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and FromSoftware's Sekiro, blending strategic combat with skill-based gameplay to create a unique experience.

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

⚫︎ In a recent interview, producer Francois Meurisse highlighted how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 blends turn-based strategy with challenging, off-rhythm enemy attacks, rooted in JRPG traditions. The game's distinctive Belle Epoque-inspired art style sets it apart, reflecting Sandfall Interactive's aim to craft a visually and mechanically unique experience. While drawing from classic Final Fantasy titles, the game also incorporates real-time defensive mechanics inspired by Sekiro and action point-based skills reminiscent of deckbuilders.

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

March 3

⚫︎ Before its release, gaming media outlets had the opportunity to experience playable demos of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Critics praised the game's turn-based combat system, noting its innovative evolution from the genre's greats. This blend of tradition and innovation has set high expectations for the game's launch.

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 prior to its release, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has secured a movie adaptation. Sandfall Interactive has teamed up with Story Kitchen, the studio behind successful game-to-film projects like Sonic and the upcoming Dredge movie. Although no director or cast has been announced yet, the project is 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 heavily draws from classic turn-based RPGs, with creative director Guillaume Broche citing Final Fantasy VIII-X, Persona, and Octopath Traveler as key influences. A longtime fan of the genre, Broche set out to create a turn-based RPG that combines high-fidelity graphics with real-time, reaction-based combat and 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 him.

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. The game's title references the 17th-18th century French artistic movement Clair Obscur, while its narrative is influenced by the novel La Horde du Contrevent. Broche emphasized the game's commitment to high-fidelity visuals and its innovative reactive turn-based battle system, drawing influences from Souls games, Devil May Cry, and NieR to modernize the traditional RPG combat experience.

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