Sandfall Interactive is really serious about the number 33. With their debut game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 now, you guessed it, 33 days away from release they made a substantial announcement today. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has gone gold!
Anytime a game goes gold it’s a significant milestone for the developer. What makes this all the more impressive in 2025 is just how far out it has gone gold. Now that we live in a digital age developers push that gold date back more and more to get the game as polished as possible. South Of Midnight for example just went gold earlier this week for its April 8th release date (or 3rd for early access). That they did it 33 days out is more symbolic than anything, but still a nice marketing touch.
Clair Obscur has looked great every time it’s been shown off since its original announcement last summer. Published by Kepler Interactive, who are quickly becoming a great AA publisher with the likes of Pacific Drive, Ultros and Flintlock: The Siege Of Dawn, Clair Obscur looks to build on that portfolio.
A Fresh Take on Turn Based JRPG’s
With there not being too many turn based RPG’s these days, Sandfall is looking to fill that void with Clair Obscur. While being turn based their will also be some real time mechanics built into the combat making for a rather unique experience. As you can see by one of the gameplay trailers below it certainly looks like a game that will stand above the pack in the genre.
Set in a world inspired by Belle Epoque France you will explore the fantasy setting while embarking on a journey to stop the Paintress. The Paintress wakes once a year to paint a number. Every year the number gets lower and lower, killing off anyone that is that age. Tomorrow she paints 33. Gustave, Maelle and other Expeditioners will set out to stop her and end the madness.
All of this will will be packaged into a roughly 30 hour long campaign or 60 hours for completionists. It is also set to have a star studded voice cast featuring Chalie Cox as Gustave, Jennifer English as Maelle, Kirsty Rider as Lune, Shala Nyx as Sciel, Andy Serkis as Renoir and Ben Starr as Verso.
Meet Maelle
Speaking of the characters, Sandfall also released a trailer highlighting Maelle. Maelle was an orphan at the age of 3 and is only 16 which makes her by far the youngest member of the Expedition.
Maelle finds the Expedition as her chance to explore the world beyond Lumière, a place she has never felt at home, and forge her own destiny. Because of her upbringing she is shy and has a hard time trusting others. Gustave is her older foster brother.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 releases April 24th on PlayStation 5, PC and Xbox Series S/X. The game will also launch day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
