Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,the debut title from Sandfall Interactive, has hit an incredible milestone only a few days after its launch.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33is a turn-based RPG that incorporates active battle mechanics, sort of likePaper Mario. But instead of simple button timings, you will need to dodge and parry in every encounter, with the system being more of a requirement than a bonus.
The RPG was revealed just last year, and has been a highly anticipated title, thanks to incredible art-style and strong trailers. The game lived up to those trailers,receiving support from critics and fans since its launch, for its homages toclassic JRPGs and incredible combat. Here’s howClair Obscur: Expedition 33has performed since its launch.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sold a million copies since launch
That doesn’t include people playing via Game Pass.
Sandfall Interactive announced onXthatClair Obscur: Expedition 33has sold over a million copies in just three days. That’s acrossPlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, andSteam. It enjoyed another milestone on Steam as well, having over100,000 concurrent playerson the platform over the weekend, hitting a peak of 121,422 (viaSteamDB.) That’s an incredible milestone for any game, but considering some of the circumstances aroundClair Obscur: Expedition 33, that number is more impressive than it sounds.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33is an AA game made with a core development team of 30 people–although that number doesn’t account for contract workers and outside help, as pointed out byRock Paper Shotgun. The game is also a budget title, coming in at only $50 instead of the traditional $70.
If that wasn’t enough,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33has two other fairly big obstacles to selling well at launch. The first is that the game launched onXbox Game Passfor both console and PC, and while that certainly can help get more people to try out the game and potentially give it more exposure, it does come at the cost of some sales.
The second hurdle is one that the team at Sandfall Interactive wasn’t even aware of until the day before launch, which was Bethesda and Microsoft shadow droppingThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remasteredjust the day before, also on Game Pass.
This was taken in stride by the marketing team, with publisher Kepler Interactive posting onBlueskythat the situation was “like barbenheimer,” referring to whenOppenhiemerandBarbiewere released in theaters at the same time.
Ultimately,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33seems like the perfect kind of success story in video games. A smaller development team making a more focused video game with an incredible art-style and a focused vision, which resulted in a surprising hit that has received tons of praise from both critics and fans. Now, the game is seeing great sales and success, making it a breakout hit of 2025.
As studios continue to get hit with layoffs and games are declared flops before even releasing, a smaller development team having this level of success with its debut title is a win for the industry as a whole. It could be awhile until Sandfall Interactive shares the next sales milestone forClair Obscur: Expedition 33, but it seems likely that it will only continue to see success.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
WHERE TO PLAY
A French-made JRPG about fighting the imminent fate of characters in a world where everyone dies at age 33.
