Sandfall Interactive recently unveiled crucial details about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 during Xbox's Developer Direct, including the release date, character roster, and innovative combat system. Let's delve into the exciting announcements!
Unveiling the Madness: April 24, 2025 Launch
Inspired by Belle Epoque France, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 arrives on April 24, 2025. Sandfall Interactive highlighted the game's reimagined turn-based combat, built from the ground up. The game will be available on Xbox Game Pass on launch day.
Pre-orders are open: $44.99 (standard) or $59.99 (Deluxe Edition) on the Xbox Store. Steam and PS5 offer a 10% discount ($44.99 and $53.99 respectively), with Steam's discount ending May 2nd, 2025, and PlayStation's expiring at 3:00 PM (local time) on release day. Note: PS5 discount requires a PlayStation Plus subscription. The Epic Games Store currently only allows wishlisting.
New Faces Join the Expedition: Monoco and Esquie
The team expands to seven playable characters plus one dedicated to exploration. Meet Monoco, a Gestral – a combat-loving being capable of transforming into defeated enemies, leveraging their powers. Gestrals are uniquely immune to the Paintress's influence.
Esquie, an ancient and powerful being, takes a supporting role, granting access to various locations on the open-world map. Collecting his special stones unlocks new abilities and areas.
The previously revealed characters (Gustave, Lune, Maelle, Sciel, Renoir, and Verso) were showcased in a YouTube video on October 16, 2024.
Reactive Turn-Based Combat and Deep Customization
Sandfall Interactive emphasizes a revitalized turn-based RPG combat system, blending real-time elements. Players can parry and dodge attacks, enhancing damage output with timed button presses. Difficulty settings adjust the timing windows for accessibility.
Deep character customization is key. Each character boasts unique mechanics and skill trees (e.g., Lune's "Stain" resource). "Pictos," equipment modifiers, evolve into permanent "Luminas" after four battles, further enhancing character builds. This allows for hundreds of build variations.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 promises a compelling blend of strategic depth and action-oriented combat, offering a fresh take on the classic turn-based RPG formula.
