Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Updates

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 News

2025

April 3

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers PC players a wide range of graphical presets, from Low to Epic, ensuring smooth performance on a variety of hardware. Console users can choose between Performance and Quality modes for optimized gameplay. The game is confirmed to be PS5 Pro Enhanced, though full technical specifications remain under wraps. Xbox players now have the option to pre-load the title ahead of its global release on April 24 at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET. The game will feature 56 achievements and trophies, including challenging 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 officially confirmed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will not include a minimap. Instead, the game features a compass to guide players through its immersive world. Producer Francois Meurisse explained that this design choice was made to enhance exploration and reduce reliance on UI elements. This decision also aligns with the game’s narrative—players are part of an expedition venturing into uncharted territory, following in the footsteps of failed explorers from the past. “They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed,” Meurisse noted, reinforcing the theme of uncertainty and discovery that defines the player experience.

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

March 21

⚫︎ Guillaume Broche, director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, admitted he was "starving for new turn-based RPGs" and decided to create one himself as a passion project back in 2019. Inspired by iconic titles like Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and Sekiro, Broche aimed to blend strategic turn-based combat with skill-intensive mechanics, creating a fresh yet familiar gameplay 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 discussed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's unique combat system, which blends traditional turn-based strategy with unpredictable enemy attacks. While rooted in JRPG heritage, the game stands out with its Belle Époque-inspired art direction—a stylistic choice reflecting the French identity of developer Sandfall Interactive. Drawing inspiration from classic Final Fantasy games, Sekiro, and modern deckbuilders, the title introduces real-time defensive mechanics and action point-based skills for a distinctive tactical feel.

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

March 3

⚫︎ Gaming news outlets were given early access to playable demos of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ahead of launch, and many praised the evolution of its turn-based combat system. Critics noted how the game builds upon the foundations laid by classic JRPGs, offering a refined and innovative battle system that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

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 before its release, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to expand beyond gaming with a live-action movie adaptation. Developer Sandfall Interactive has partnered with Story Kitchen, known for their work on film adaptations of Sonic and the upcoming Dredge movie. Although no director or cast has been announced yet, producers Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Elena Sandoval are already attached to the project. Story Kitchen expressed enthusiasm about bringing the game’s deep 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 takes heavy inspiration from beloved turn-based RPGs. Creative director Guillaume Broche cited Final Fantasy VIII-X, Persona, and Octopath Traveler among the game’s key influences. As a lifelong fan of the genre, Broche aimed to craft a high-fidelity turn-based RPG that merges real-time reaction mechanics with strategic depth. Players can switch party members freely in the open world and utilize traversal abilities to solve puzzles. Broche was delighted by the positive response to the game, hoping players would experiment with creative builds and push the system to its limits.

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 from real-world art and literature. The game’s title references the 17th–18th century French artistic movement, while its narrative is inspired by the novel La Horde du Contrevent. Broche emphasized the game’s visual fidelity and its dynamic reactive turn-based combat system. Influenced by Souls games, Devil May Cry, and NieR, Expedition 33 aims to redefine what modern turn-based RPGs can achieve.

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