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Final Fantasy Resonance and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 success means "all signals" point to Square Enix making a mainline turn-based JRPG, analyst says: "Just a matter of time"
Following the strong performance of Final Fantasy Resonance and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an analyst suggests Square Enix should return to mainline turn-based JRPGs. Resonance has sold 400,000 copies, generating $20 million, indicating a significant market appetite that the company may have overlooked in its shift towards action-oriented titles.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sold 8.7 million copies and made $366 million, analyst says, and that's despite the…
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has achieved significant commercial success, selling 8.7 million copies and generating $366 million, with a strong performance on Steam despite its availability on PC Game Pass. Analysts suggest that its inclusion in subscription services like Xbox Game Pass, while potentially cannibalizing direct sales, ultimately increased its overall reach and player base.
Rayman Legends Retold’s New Baguette Costumes Are A Tip Of The Beret To Expedition 33
Rayman Legends Retold will feature new baguette-themed costumes as a tribute to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, both games developed by French studios. Ubisoft confirmed these outfits are a playful nod to the other game, celebrating French creativity. The costumes will be available at launch for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
GTA 6 could beat Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's record-breaking Game Awards haul - but I wouldn't bet on it
This article discusses the potential for Grand Theft Auto VI to receive numerous nominations at The Game Awards, comparing its prospects to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's record-breaking haul last year. While GTA 6 is expected to be nominated in major categories like Game of the Year and Best Game Direction, the author suggests it's unlikely to surpass Clair Obscur's nine wins due to certain categories being inaccessible for a major studio title.
CD Projekt is in "a really dangerous place", says Anthem's executive producer, pointing to ballooning costs of making games of that scope and quality
Former Bioware executive producer Mark Darrah warns that the triple-A game industry is in a 'dangerous place' due to ballooning development costs and hyper-specialization, predicting a market bifurcation. He highlights how massive teams and extended development cycles, exemplified by Grand Theft Auto VI's delays, increase financial risks, potentially leading to more studios adopting smaller, focused models with significant outsourcing, like Sandfall Interactive.
Rare Clair Obscur Expedition 33 crossover sees the RPG's best characters come to Steam-hit roguelike Astral Ascent:…
The acclaimed indie roguelite Astral Ascent has received a free crossover update titled 'Expedition 33: For Those Who Come After'. This update introduces characters from Sandfall Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as special summons and adds themed rooms and bosses. Developer Hibernian Workshop expressed excitement about the collaboration, aiming to pay tribute to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 while translating its world into Astral Ascent's pixel art style.
I got my start writing for a PlayStation 2 magazine: These are my 12 PS2-pilled recommendations from the Steam Autumn…
This article recommends 12 games available on Steam, inspired by or ports from the PlayStation 2 and Dreamcast era. It highlights six modern titles that draw inspiration from the 'sixth generation' of consoles, such as Promise Mascot Agency and Hi-Fi Rush, alongside six classic ports like Metal Gear Solid 3 and Final Fantasy 10.
GTA 6 will not be eligible to complete Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's 'Big 5'…
Grand Theft Auto 6 will not be eligible to win a 'Big 5' Game of the Year award sweep in the upcoming season due to its November 19 release date, which falls after the Golden Joystick Awards ceremony. Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are the only studios to have achieved this feat within a single awards season. While Grand Theft Auto 6 may still win individual awards, it cannot replicate the specific sweep achieved by the other titles.
The AA games industry needs "a few more Expedition 33s" before publishers stop seeing smaller games as a major financial risk, says Valor Mortis director
Despite the massive success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, publishers remain hesitant to invest in AA games, viewing them as a significant financial risk. Radek Ratusznik, director at One More Level, believes the industry needs more unexpected bestsellers like Expedition 33 to prove the viability of smaller-scale, creative titles.
After Clair Obscur Expedition 33, president of France announces international festival of video games: "Video games…
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to create an international video game festival, aiming to elevate French game development and integrate video games into the country's cultural landscape. The announcement follows the international success of French studio Sandfall Interactive's game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Pokemon with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's combat sounds like a bonkers idea, but one fan's now given us a…
A fan has created a detailed animation showcasing how the Pokemon series might incorporate the unique combat system of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The fan-made video, which features timing-based prompts and dynamic camera work, has garnered significant attention online, sparking discussion about potential future combat mechanics in Pokemon games.
Steam Week in Review: A touch of AI is all it takes to trigger backlash, as a promising new indie falls afoul of slop…
Vapor World: Over The Mind, a Soulslike Metroidvania, faced significant backlash on Steam due to its use of generative AI in cutscenes, leading to a surge of negative reviews. Developer Alive Inc has since replaced the AI-generated content, with director Young Kim acknowledging the hasty judgment and promising to improve. The incident highlights audience intolerance for AI shortcuts in game development, even as South Korea shows high AI optimism.
7 developers that will save the video games industry - Reader’s Feature
This reader's feature highlights seven smaller developers, including 11 bit studios, AdHoc Studios, Daniel Mullins Games, Hazelight Studios, Larian Studios, Sandfall Interactive, and Supergiant Games, who are seen as vital to the future of the video game industry. The article praises their innovative approaches to game design and storytelling, contrasting them with the perceived missteps of larger publishers.
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida told Clair Obscur devs to not call it a 'turn-based RPG' so people…
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida advised developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to avoid marketing it as a 'turn-based RPG' due to the genre's perceived unpopularity. Despite this, the game has achieved significant success, selling over eight million copies and helping to revitalize interest in turn-based titles. Yoshida believes this success highlights the risks of solely chasing industry trends.
Former PlayStation boss says it's "really funny" turn-based JRPGs are so in-demand after he advised Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs not to use the term
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida finds it amusing that he once advised Sandfall Interactive to avoid marketing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a turn-based JRPG, a genre now experiencing a resurgence. He notes the irony given the game's critical success and the current demand for similar titles, contrasting it with his past advice to steer consumers away from the term.
Shuhei Yoshida told Expedition 33 studio to avoid terms like 'turn-based RPG' because it may cause people to "overlook" the game
Veteran PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida advised Expedition 33 developers Sandfall Interactive and publisher Kepler Interactive to avoid marketing the game solely as a 'turn-based RPG,' believing the term might cause players to overlook its innovative combat. The team adopted the term 'reactive turn-based battles' instead, contributing to the game's commercial and critical success, selling 5.5 million copies and receiving multiple awards.
GYLD raises $1m to fund proprietary games research system that marked Clair Obscur as a potential hit
Gaming investment agency GYLD has secured $1 million in funding to further develop its proprietary game research system, Critical Compass. This AI-powered tool analyzes game features and audience potential, having already supported over $100 million in funding for more than 45 projects. GYLD aims to democratize access to this advanced market research, making it more affordable for developers of all sizes.
Ex PlayStation boss told Clair Obscur Expedition 33 devs not to call it a turn-based RPG: "That alone might cause…
Former Sony Interactive president Shuhei Yoshida advised Kepler Interactive to avoid marketing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a turn-based RPG due to perceived market unpopularity. Despite this guidance, the game, developed by Sandfall Interactive, was released to critical acclaim and numerous awards, ultimately helping to revitalize interest in the genre. Yoshida shared this anecdote at the Busan Indie Connect Festival 2026.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's "untranslatable" inspiration is finally getting an English release after 22…
Alain Damasio's influential French novel, Horde of the Counterwind, which inspired the game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, is finally receiving its first English translation. The book, originally published over two decades ago, will be available in the US on October 13 and in the UK on November 12. The novel's complex wordplay had previously made it a challenging text to translate.
Masterpiece RPG Expedition 33 Is Cheaper Than Ever Right Now, But Only For 24 Hours
Masterpiece RPG Expedition 33 is currently available at its lowest price ever, a 29% discount on Steam for a limited 24-hour period. Developed by Sandfall Interactive, the game has received widespread acclaim for its heartfelt narrative, unique turn-based combat with active dodges and parries, and beautiful thematic world. This deal offers a significant opportunity to experience the critically praised title at a reduced cost.
