"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Director Aims for 2025 Game of the Year"

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s director was bored, so he created 2025’s highest-rated game. Dive in to discover the inspiration behind the developers' journey and the formation of Sandfall Interactive.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Made Out of Boredom

Doing Something Different

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has swiftly risen to fame, becoming the highest-rated game of 2025 and selling over 1 million copies in just three days. What's astonishing is that this game-of-the-year contender was born from a spark of boredom and a desire for innovation.

In an interview with BBC News on May 4, the team at Sandfall Interactive shared the story behind the game. Director Guillaume Broche explained that the project was his solution to the monotony he felt while working at Ubisoft during the peak of the 2020 pandemic. Inspired by his childhood love for the Final Fantasy series, Broche embarked on a journey to create a game that echoed those JRPG elements, beginning his quest on Reddit.

A Stroke of Luck

To turn his vision into reality, Broche reached out to potential collaborators on Reddit and online forums. At the time, the concept of a Belle Époque-inspired game with classic turn-based gameplay didn't generate much excitement. Nevertheless, Broche persisted, determined to bring his passion project to life.

While under lockdown in Australia, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen stumbled upon Broche's call for voice actors on Reddit. Curious and eager to try something new, she auditioned and was initially cast as a major character. Her role soon expanded to lead writer for Expedition 33.

Broche eventually left Ubisoft to focus entirely on Expedition 33, founding Sandfall Interactive. With funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the team grew to around 30 members, many of whom were found through unconventional means. For instance, composer Lorien Testard joined the team after connecting through Soundcloud.

Thanks to Kepler Interactive’s backing, Sandfall Interactive was able to attract renowned actors such as Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI), Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate 3), and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings), among others.

Despite the team's expansion, Broche and Svedberg-Yen emphasized the versatility required during development, often taking on multiple roles. Svedberg-Yen, for example, managed translations into various languages. Broche praised the team, saying, "We have, I think, an amazing team mostly of junior people but they are so incredibly invested in the project and talented."

The story of Expedition 33's creation is as enchanting as the game itself. Fueled by boredom and serendipity, Sandfall Interactive crafted a game destined to captivate players for generations. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. To keep up with the latest updates, be sure to check out our dedicated article below!