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The "untranslatable" book that inspired Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been translated, and you can buy it later this year
The cult classic French novel "La Horde du Contrevent" by Alain Damasio, a significant inspiration for the upcoming game "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33," is receiving its first English translation. Published by Abrams Books, the translated novel will be available in the US on October 13, 2026, and in the UK on November 12. The book, originally released in 2004, focuses on themes of loss and perseverance, and its translation was handled by Alexander Dickow.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Clea actor finds it "fascinating" that RPG fans give her character "more grace" than Baldur's Gate 3's Lae'zel
Voice actor Devora Wilde, who plays characters in both Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, finds it fascinating that players offer more leniency to her character Clea than to Baldur's Gate 3's Lae'zel. Wilde suggests the difference stems from Clea's perceived family motivations versus Lae'zel's initial self-interest and harsh demeanor.
Clair Obscur Expedition 33's studio is a manor that looks just like the one in the RPG, but it was a pure coincidence: "It shouldn't feel like coming to an office"
Sandfall Interactive, the developer behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, coincidentally found an office space in a manor that closely resembles the one in their game. Creative director Guillaume Broche stated their philosophy was to create a warm, house-like environment rather than a traditional office. The team values their current, smaller space to maintain an independent spirit and foster close communication.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took inspiration from Attack on Titan and Bleach's instantly recognizable characters:…
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 drew inspiration from anime series like Attack on Titan and Bleach for its character designs and storytelling. CEO Guillaume Broche cited Attack on Titan's existential themes and recognizable uniforms, while artist Alan Reynaud highlighted Bleach's simple yet memorable character designs as key influences for the game's aesthetic and character creation.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead says you "can't compare" turn-based and action games, and he loves both…
Guillaume Broche, creative director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, stated that he does not have a preference between turn-based and action combat, emphasizing that the quality of the game's execution is more important than the genre. He believes that comparing the two styles is like comparing pizza and sushi, as both can be excellent when done well. Expedition 33 itself blends turn-based combat with action elements like parrying.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on Switch 2 is a "big technical challenge" because many Unreal Engine features "don't work," leads say, but Sandfall is "interested" in pulling it off
Developer Sandfall Interactive has stated that bringing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to the Nintendo Switch 2 presents a significant technical challenge due to Unreal Engine 5 features not working as expected on the platform. While interested in a port, the studio acknowledges the hardware's limitations compared to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, impacting their ability to achieve the desired visual fidelity.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs are working on a Nintendo Switch 2 version, but note the "big technical challenge" of getting it up and running
Sandfall Interactive is exploring a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, but acknowledges the significant technical challenges due to the platform's power limitations compared to PlayStation and Xbox Series X. The developers are relying on Unreal Engine 5 updates, such as Lumen Lite, to make the port feasible, though no release window has been announced.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director prefers JPRGs to the likes of Skyrim, Fallout, and Baldur's Gate because their linear narratives allow for "a stronger story" and "more memorable characters"
Guillaume Broche, director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, expressed a preference for JRPGs over Western RPGs like Skyrim and Fallout, citing their linear narratives as conducive to stronger stories and more memorable characters. He believes this focus on a defined narrative allows for a more impactful storytelling experience compared to the player-driven choices often found in Western RPGs.
Clair Obscur developers see Sony's no-disk announcement as 'a sad decision', because they 'like to go outside, buy a game, and come back home with it'
Developers at Sandfall Interactive, creators of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, have expressed sadness over Sony's decision to discontinue game discs. Studio leads Guillaume Broche, Tom Guillermin, and Alan Reynaud shared that physical releases hold artistic value and contribute to the tangible ownership experience that many players cherish.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Team Faces “a Big Technical Challenge” For a Nintendo Switch 2 Port
Sandfall Interactive's CTO Tom Guillermin stated that a Nintendo Switch 2 port of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 presents a significant technical challenge due to the console's hardware limitations compared to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. While CEO Guillaume Broche expressed interest in exploring a port, he noted it's too early to announce anything. The team also discussed challenges and benefits of using Unreal Engine 5 for the Switch 2, including features like Lumen Lite and Blueprints.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Studio is “Going to Go a Bit Crazy” With its Next Game, Says CEO
Guillaume Broche, CEO of Sandfall Interactive, stated that the studio plans to be creative and "go a bit crazy" with its next game following the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. He emphasized the importance of limitations in fostering creativity and intends to keep the team small, around 26 employees, to maintain a strong creative vision. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sold 8 million copies across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
After Clair Obscur Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive is "going to go a bit crazy" with its next game: "We want to let ourselves dream again and be creative"
Sandfall Interactive, the studio behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, plans to embrace a more "crazy" and creative approach for its next game. Studio leaders Guillaume Broche, François Meurisse, and Jennifer Svedberg-Yen emphasize a desire to recapture the passion and passion that fueled their previous project, while maintaining a small team size to preserve their focused development philosophy.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads call PlayStation killing discs a "sad decision" after buying boxed copies of their own RPG – "For us, physical was something special"
Developers from Sandfall Interactive, creators of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, have expressed sadness over Sony's decision to end physical disc production for PlayStation consoles in 2028. Creative director Guillaume Broche and CTO Tom Guillermin believe physical media is a special and tangible part of art, despite understanding the business rationale. The studio even went out of its way to produce and purchase physical copies of their own game.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs talk about the challenges of a Nintendo Switch 2 port
Sandfall Interactive, the developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, have stated that a port to the Nintendo Switch 2 would present a significant technical challenge due to the console's power limitations compared to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. While they are interested in exploring the possibility, the team noted that certain Unreal Engine 5 features are not compatible with the Switch 2, though newer features like Lumen Lite might offer some benefits.
Develop:Brighton showed the UK games industry is done with hand-wringing and is determined to save itself | Opinion
The UK games industry, facing significant layoffs and funding challenges, is shifting from hand-wringing to proactive self-preservation through increased collaboration. Developers are exploring regional hubs, studio collectives, and cross-industry opportunities to ensure resilience and sustainability in a difficult economic climate. While government and private funding initiatives show some promise, securing early-stage prototype funding remains a critical hurdle.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins Best Game at Develop:Star Awards 2026
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive and Kepler Interactive was awarded Best Game at the Develop:Star Awards 2026, alongside wins for Best Narrative and Best Audio. Other notable winners included Frontier Developments for Best Studio and Sony Interactive Entertainment for Publishing Star.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs were told that "no one" would like one of the RPG's best systems before it launched, lead says: "We didn't care"
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's creative director Guillaume Broche revealed that developers at Sandfall Interactive were told their game's unique blend of action and turn-based combat would be disliked by players. Despite these warnings, the team proceeded with their vision, which has since been praised, even winning multiple Game of the Year awards. Broche also commented on the charm of imperfections in games, contrasting them with overly polished but ultimately boring titles.
The rarest items in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 include an extremely French weapon that only 6% of players found, data…
Data from over 4,000 players using Game Checklists reveals the rarest items in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The 'Baguette Weapon' is found by only 6% of players, requiring New Game Plus and careful management of Festival Tokens. Other rare items include cosmetic rewards from recent updates, with Gustave's Anniversary Haircut found by only 2.5% due to its late April 2026 addition.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director thinks devs will eventually "be able to churn out a game in 5 seconds with a prompt," but he hopes they're not any good
Guillaume Broche, lead developer at Sandfall Interactive, believes that while AI could eventually allow for games to be generated instantly with a prompt, he hopes these creations won't be good. His studio is not using generative AI for creative work, though they are exploring its use for administrative tasks. Broche also mentioned that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a spiritual successor to the JRPG Lost Odyssey.
PlayStation goes all-digital, lessons learned for Square Enix, and what happens when fantasy projects collide with the…
Sony PlayStation will discontinue physical game disc production for new games starting January 2028, coinciding with the closure of the PlayStation Store on PS3 and Vita. Meanwhile, Cyberpunk 2077 has surpassed 40 million players, and CD Projekt Red is consolidating its brand. IO Interactive's fantasy RPG Project Fantasy faces uncertainty as Xbox funding has been pulled.
