Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Publisher Says The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Shadow-Drop Actually Benefitted the Game by Drawing Attention to ‘Quality RPGs That Week’

When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered during the launch week of the role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many predicted that Oblivion would overshadow its competitor. However, Kepler Interactive, the publisher of Clair Obscur, reported that not only did Oblivion not negatively impact Clair Obscur, but it actually enhanced the latter's success by increasing overall excitement for the RPG genre.

Kepler Interactive’s senior portfolio manager, Matt Handrahan, shared insights with The Game Business about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s successful launch. RPG enthusiasts were faced with a tough decision: immerse themselves in the vast world of Oblivion’s Cyrodiil or embark on a unique adventure to confront the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The simultaneous release sparked a mix of excitement and frustration among fans, prompting a witty response from Kepler Interactive on social media.

In a playful X/Twitter post, Kepler shared an image of Clair Obscur characters entering an Oblivion Gate, captioned "omg its like barbenheimer," humorously 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 Oblivion’s developer Bethesda and a major backer of Clair Obscur since its reveal at an Xbox Showcase, faced criticism for the timing of Oblivion’s shadow-drop, especially with both games being available on Game Pass from day one.

Handrahan, however, reassured that there was no cause for concern. “We always knew that Expedition 33 had a very specific identity,” he explained. “In the press, I saw the Western-style RPG and the Japanese-style RPG as having quite different appeals and audiences. I knew plenty of people that would play an Elder Scrolls game that wouldn't necessarily play Final Fantasy and vice versa.

“Also, by the time we launched, we had our own momentum and felt confident that we could stand beside Oblivion. Factors like our pricing and inclusion in Game Pass played a significant role. We were confident in our game's appeal, and it performed exceptionally well. In fact, being released alongside Oblivion didn't harm us at all. Instead, it drew more attention to the quality RPGs available that week, sparking conversations and interest in the genre.”

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

Data from Ampere, cited by The Game Business, revealed that 35% of Clair Obscur players also played Oblivion Remastered, indicating substantial overlap. This overlap is largely attributed to both games being available on Game Pass, with the percentage dropping among Steam and PlayStation 5 users.

Our comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the main questline and all guild quests, How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and much more.

For Clair Obscur, make sure to check out our tips for important things to know before starting your adventure.