"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Updates Revealed"

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 News

2025

April 3

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offers PC players a variety of graphical settings ranging from Low to Epic, while console users can choose between Performance and Quality modes. The game is confirmed to be PS5 Pro Enhanced, though specific details on enhancements are yet to be revealed. Xbox players can now pre-load the game in anticipation of its global launch on April 24 at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET. The game will feature 56 achievements and trophies, including challenging tasks such as defeating bosses without taking damage and collecting all 33 music records.

Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Reveals Graphics Settings, Trophy Expectations, and Xbox Pre-Load Info Ahead of Launch

March 24

⚫︎ Sandfall Interactive has announced that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will not feature a minimap, opting for a compass to guide players. Producer Francois Meurisse explained that this decision aims to foster a sense of exploration and aligns with the game's narrative of venturing into unknown territories following failed expeditions. "They don’t have a map because every previous expedition failed," Meurisse emphasized, highlighting the intended experience of uncertainty for players.

Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won't have a mini map to preserve its sense of discovery, says producer

March 21

⚫︎ The director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Guillaume Broche, started the project in 2019 out of a personal craving for new turn-based RPGs. Inspired by classics like Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and FromSoftware's Sekiro, Broche sought to blend strategic gameplay with skill-based mechanics, creating a game he knew others would also enjoy.

Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's director was 'starving for new turn-based RPGs,' and figured if he wanted them, there would be others out there who'd want to play his game

March 19

⚫︎ Producer Francois Meurisse recently discussed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's unique gameplay, which combines turn-based strategy with challenging, off-rhythm enemy attacks. Rooted in JRPG traditions, the game features a distinctive Belle Epoque-inspired art style, setting it apart visually and mechanically. It draws from Final Fantasy while integrating real-time defensive mechanics from Sekiro and action point-based skills from deckbuilders.

Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is Sekiro Meets Belle Époque Meets JRPG

March 3

⚫︎ Ahead of its launch, playable demos of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 were shared with gaming media, who praised the game's innovative turn-based combat system. It represents an evolution of the genre, paying homage to iconic JRPGs while introducing fresh mechanics.

Read more: How Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s turn-based combat pays homage to all-time great JRPGs

January 30

⚫︎ Even before its release, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to be adapted into a live-action movie. Sandfall Interactive has teamed up with Story Kitchen, the studio behind game-to-film projects like Sonic and the upcoming Dredge movie. While details on the director and cast are pending, producers Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Elena Sandoval are on board. Story Kitchen is enthusiastic about bringing the game's rich narrative and complex characters to the big screen.

Read more: Clair Obscur is Getting Its Own Live-Action Movie

2024

August 29

⚫︎ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws significant inspiration from classic turn-based RPGs, with creative director Guillaume Broche citing influences from Final Fantasy VIII-X, Persona, and Octopath Traveler. Aiming to create a high-fidelity turn-based RPG, Broche blends real-time reaction-based combat with strategic depth. Players can switch party members in the open world and use traversal abilities to solve puzzles. Broche hopes players will "break the game" with creative builds, aiming to leave a lasting impact similar to the RPGs that inspired him.

Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wears Its FF and Persona Influences on Its Sleeves

July 30

⚫︎ Creative director Guillaume Broche revealed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is inspired by real-world art and literature, specifically the 17th-18th century French Clair Obscur movement and the novel La Horde du Contrevent. The game focuses on high-fidelity visuals and an innovative reactive turn-based battle system, drawing influence from Souls games, Devil May Cry, and NieR to modernize RPG combat.

Read more: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Historical Roots and Innovations