The director behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 grew weary of routine and channeled that restlessness into creating what would become 2025's top-rated game. Discover the motivations that drove the developers and the origins of Sandfall Interactive.
Boredom Sparked the Creation of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Pursuing a New Direction
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly established itself as an instant classic, earning the highest ratings of any 2025 release and surpassing one million sales within its first three days. Remarkably, this game-of-the-year contender emerged from a place of boredom and a longing to break new ground.
On May 4, BBC News interviewed the developers at Sandfall Interactive about the game's origins. Director Guillaume Broche explained that the project began as a remedy for his own restlessness. While working at Ubisoft during the peak of the 2020 pandemic, he grew increasingly eager to pursue a personal creative vision.
Having been a lifelong fan of the Final Fantasy JRPG series, Broche decided to craft a game that captured a similar spirit. This ambition led him to turn to Reddit, where he took the first steps toward realizing his dream.
An Unexpected Break
Broche began shaping his vision by reaching out to potential collaborators through Reddit and online forums. Back then, the concept of Expedition 33—a turn-based RPG set in a Belle Époque-inspired world—didn't immediately capture public excitement. But Broche persisted, determined to find others who shared his passion.
Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, then in lockdown in Australia, was among those who responded. Intrigued by Broche's call for voice actors on Reddit, she decided to audition. "I thought, 'I've never done that before, but it sounds exciting,' so I sent in an audition," Svedberg-Yen recalled. Initially hired to voice a major character, she eventually became the game’s lead writer.
Broche later left Ubisoft to dedicate himself fully to Expedition 33, officially forming Sandfall Interactive. After securing funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the core team expanded to around 30 members. Many were recruited through unconventional avenues, including composer Lorien Testard, who connected with the team via Soundcloud.
With Kepler Interactive's backing, the studio was able to recruit well-known actors, including Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI), Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate 3), and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings).
Even as the team grew, Broche and Svedberg-Yen noted that they often "wore many different hats" throughout development. Core members frequently stepped outside their official roles—Svedberg-Yen, for instance, also managed translations into multiple languages. "We have an incredible team, mostly of junior talent, but they’re deeply invested and exceptionally gifted," Broche remarked.
The story behind Expedition 33 feels almost as enchanting as the game itself. Fueled by a mix of restlessness and serendipity, Sandfall Interactive has delivered a timeless experience destined to be enjoyed for years. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest updates, be sure to read our article below.
