Despite Runaway Success, Expedition 33 Developers Plan to Keep Team Compact

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn't just a strong GOTY candidate, it’s also a huge commercial success. Studio Sandfall Interactive and publisher Kepler Interactive disclosed that the game exceeded 5 million units in sales, and that’s even with it being a launch-day addition through the Game Pass service.

Title screenshot
Art: Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive

This achievement was an unexpected turn to Sandfall. I firmly believed that we would have a good game garnering some average commercial success,” the COO and producer stated.

Another leading developer remarked this title's review aggregate, now standing at 93, was the most surprising moment to the team compared to our early predictions and what the reality of the field was. Because when it dropped everybody in the studio were cheering loudly. It was really frantic.”

This triumph has led to Sandfall developing a complimentary expansion for the game featuring fresh areas, foes, along with challenging bosses, which they said will release within the “upcoming month[s]”.

Nevertheless, as the title expands, fans shouldn't anticipate the studio to grow. Our team includes a talented crew guided by a visionary director possessing strong ideas for our work and also for new ideas. We'd like to keep the small-team dynamic that made this possible and perhaps create one big game after another,” the executive noted.

Their team size drummed up significant conversation upon the title's release. Some developers, such as the famed director, considered Sandfall’s team as the model for a studio. While Sandfall was and is truly compact next to major studios, checking the game's credits shows that many individuals participated; the French studio contracted a Korean team for animation work, as an instance.

“Some hiring will occur slightly more certainly if we have a future production surge in upcoming years,” the producer commented. “Yet I picture essentially a craft studio comprising a handful highly skilled individuals capable of producing collective masterpieces.” It was stated that their core belief as a company “is more to maintain the key advantages that enabled this success from the start.”

While it may be premature for the studio to reveal exact details about future projects — believe me, efforts were made — the team does know their fundamental principles. “Strategic combat, forms the foundation of our creations,” they said. “It's a bit too early to announce future passions, yet we must to remain faithful to our creative core through compelling worlds and engaging mechanics that drives our passion.”

The lead programmer added that the project originated from the creative director pursuing his ideal project. We aspire that philosophy will be repeated as well for future productions.”

Andrew Smith
Andrew Smith

A certified fitness trainer and nature enthusiast, passionate about helping others achieve wellness through outdoor adventures.