Summary
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33narrative lead Jennifer Svedberg-Yen has revealed that the turn-based RPG once looked very different from the Belle Époque-styled epic that’s already become a contender for game of the year. From the near soulslike-level boss battles and rousing score to the emotive narrative at its core,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33has demanded the attention of the gaming community, and its popularity shows no sign of slowing down.
Gameplay revolves around the titular group of volunteers who embark on a futile mission to destroy the Paintress, and the game’s combat style is visually and strategically influenced by the likes of theFinal FantasyandPersonaseries. Sandfall Interactive recently deployed anew update forClair Obscur: Expedition 33, featuring an ability nerf to improve balance, enhancements to Steam Deck performance, and several bug fixes, rendering gameplay a more seamless experience.
During an interview with The Gamer, Svedberg-Yen was asked how a game of this scope and scale, both visually and narratively, is conceptualized, and the lead confirmed the game’s style and story were once very different. “Gameplay would have been similar, but the story was completely different. It was set in a steampunk Victorian England with zombies, aliens, and various things,” Svedberg-Yen revealed, and the team put six months' worth of work into this alternate version.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33director Guillaume Broche previously revealed the first RPG he played, and the game is from a popular JRPG series that has certainly influenced the modern fantasy title, but after a discussion with investors, the director decided on a reboot.
“We spoke to some potential investors who said, ‘You know, you can think bigger, don’t hold yourself back just because you’re worried about funding. If you could do what you wanted to do, what would you write?'” Svedberg-Yen continued, and that conversation led to Broche declaring a reboot, saying, “Alright, reboot. We’re starting from scratch.” This drastic change in direction later birthed theExpedition 33gamers know and love now, and the inception of its narrative came from a painting that Broche held in high regard and a short story by Svedberg-Yen. Adding to the game’s former ties to zombies and aliens, someClair Obscur: Expedition 33fans have drawn similarities to a mind-bending Apple TV series, further proving the title captures several genres for a wider audience to enjoy.
Since the harrowing expedition fronted by Gustave, Maelle, and Lune has become one of the most successful and popular games of 2025 so far, theClair Obscur: Expedition 33co-founders addressed post-launch contentrecently. The devs previously noted that DLC material would be on the table so long as there was a strong demand for more content from the fans, and since that seems to be the case going forward, fingers crossed that there’s more in store.
