Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's director, driven by boredom, crafted what would become the highest-rated game of 2025. Dive into the story of how this game came to life and the formation of Sandfall Interactive.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Born from Boredom
Doing Something Different
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly become a beloved classic, earning the title of the highest-rated game of 2025 and selling over 1 million copies within just three days. What's fascinating is that this game-of-the-year contender emerged from the director's desire to break the monotony.
In an interview with BBC News on May 4, Sandfall Interactive's developers shared the game's origin story. Director Guillaume Broche explained that the project was initially a way to combat his boredom. While working at Ubisoft during the peak of the 2020 pandemic, he felt restless and was inspired to create a game reminiscent of his childhood favorite, the Final Fantasy series. This sparked the beginning of his journey, which started on Reddit.
A Stroke of Luck
To bring his vision to life, Broche reached out on Reddit and various online forums, seeking collaborators. At the time, the idea of a Belle Époque-inspired game with classic turn-based gameplay didn't garner much excitement. Undeterred, Broche persisted in his search for like-minded individuals passionate about his project.
During the lockdown in Australia, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen stumbled upon Broche's Reddit post seeking voice actors. Intrigued, she auditioned and was initially cast as a major character. Her role evolved, and she eventually became the lead writer for Expedition 33. "I was like: 'I've never done that, it sounds kinda cool', so I sent him an audition," Svedberg-Yen recalled.
Broche left Ubisoft to focus entirely on Expedition 33, founding Sandfall Interactive. With funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the team grew to about 30 members, many of whom were found through unconventional means, such as composer Lorien Testard, who connected via Soundcloud.
With Kepler Interactive's backing, they were able to enlist renowned actors like 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 growth, Broche and Svedberg-Yen emphasized their multi-faceted roles during development. Svedberg-Yen, for instance, also handled 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 origins of Expedition 33 are as enchanting as the game itself. Fueled by boredom and a bit of luck, Sandfall Interactive created a game that promises to captivate players for generations. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest news by following our article below!
