Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen
The director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 didn’t expect this, the game has exploded in popularity at a pace that’s left even the creators speechless
A surprise success has pushed a once-quiet RPG into the centre of the gaming world.
What began as a modest project has quickly grown into one of the year’s most talked-about releases.
As reaction continues to swell, the people behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 say they are still trying to understand how it all happened.
Sudden momentum
Speaking with Radio Times Gaming after the Golden Joysticks, creative director Guillaume Broche described how the team never anticipated such a surge of attention.
He said, “Nobody really understands what’s happening,” recalling that the developers expected a warm reception but nothing close to the current scale.
Broche explained that expectations were modest throughout production. “It’s going to be cool.
It’s not going to be big, it’s going to be cool,” he told the outlet. The dramatic shift after launch has left the team overwhelmed.
The reaction from players, he added, has been deeply emotional. “It’s a weird feeling, when you put your heart out into the world and the world embraces it and gives you so much love back.”
cast reactions
Actor Ben Starr, who voices Verso, shared a similar sense of disbelief. He said the RPG “was never intended to be as big as it is,” calling the response a “cultural moment” fuelled by the game’s sincerity.
According to Starr, the team has been stunned by the scale of its audience. “No one expected those numbers,” he said, describing private cast chats filled with jokes about how surreal the situation feels.
The game launched on April 24 on PC and consoles, including day-one access via Xbox Game Pass.
In its 9/10 review, IGN labelled it a “modern RPG classic,” praising developer Sandfall for drawing on beloved genre influences while creating something distinct.
record-breaking success
Five months after release, sales have climbed to 5 million units, positioning the title among 2024’s major commercial hits.
It has also secured 12 nominations at The Game Awards, including Best Direction, Best Narrative, Best RPG, and Game of the Year. Three cast members are shortlisted for Best Performance.
Sandfall recently rolled out update 1.4.0, adding a Battle Retry feature and a range of visual and quality-of-life improvements.
Sources: Youtube/Radio Times Gaming, IGN Nordic
