From the very first time we have been launched to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ultimately June’s Xbox Video games Showcase, it was clear we have been witnessing one thing particular. And, each time this incredible-looking sport’s debut developer, Sandfall Interactive, has dropped tantalizing glimpses of its debut sport since then, hype ranges amongst RPG enjoyers solely proceed to rise.
Which brings us to as we speak’s Developer_Direct, the place we traveled to Montpellier, France to fulfill the minds behind one of the crucial thrilling new RPGs in years, and be taught greater than ever earlier than. After establishing that this surprisingly small staff of creators works out of a French manor(!), the event staff peeled again much more layers of their finely crafted mille feuille of an RPG, revealing scrumptious particulars on the sport’s emotional story, unique world, how its gameplay innovates on classics of the style. In addition they sharedits April 24 launch date; you possibly can pre-order right here https://information.xbox.com/en-us/2025/01/23/clair-obscur-expedition-33-developer-direct-2025/ and play it day one with Recreation Cross!
Not too long ago I caught up with a pair members of the Expedition 33 staff for a recording of the Official Xbox Podcast – airing quickly – the place they kindly shared much more particulars on what we’ve simply seen.
From that first reveal, the depth of Expedition 33’s turn-based fight proved instantly arresting; the implementation of real-time parts (like dodging or parrying), the number of strikes at gamers’ disposal, and the fashionable visible thrives that accompany all of it. As good because it reveals up on display, the staff needed to make sure that the gameplay had the depth to again up its showstopping seems.
“We didn’t need the sport to only be a reasonably face”, Guillaume Broche, CEO & Artistic Director, informed us. “We needed it to be like a sport that seems like an actual sport. So each character has their very own playstyle and you may actually play them in plenty of alternative ways – however in addition they really feel very totally different from one another, and so they all have their distinctive mechanics and their distinctive talent tree. “
Throughout Developer_Direct, Sandfall defined one other side of Expedition 33’s deep customization of characters and playstyle, which you arrange earlier than you enter battle. The sport’s progressive Pictos, modifiers tied to gear, evolve into passive skills known as Lumina after 4 battles.
For instance, one character, Lune has a mechanic whereby each time she casts a talent, she is going to generate a “Stain,” as much as 4 at a time. She will be able to then devour these Stains throughout the battle, amplifying her skills in numerous methods; the (pardon the pun) magic is find the best mixture to your playstyle. Every character boasts their very own distinctive mechanic, from Gustave’s Overcharged arm to Sciel’s use of Solar and Moon-based “Foretell” expenses.
“So what’s very cool is that, if you play by the sport, you’ll change your tools loads and you’ll get increasingly Lumina and on the finish of the sport you’ve a full listing of passives that you would be able to both activate or deactivate, and this enables some loopy construct alternatives,” Broche defined. “That is the place we actually make some loopy combos, and that is the place we anticipate gamers to actually break the sport – and we hope they break the sport, as a result of it’s made for that!”
For all of the strategic choices on provide, it’s the visceral, real-time parts of the turn-based battle system that leap entrance and middle in each little bit of gameplay we’ve seen. Whereas it is a essential a part of gameplay, and will definitely enchantment to these in search of an expertise which challenges each thoughts and reflexes, Broche assures these of us missing, shall we embrace, Sekiro-caliber timing may have choices:
“So that you’re not alleged to parry every thing, in fact, that will be far too arduous. So we now have issue choices within the sport, and relying on the issue choices the parry window and dodge window will likely be greater or smaller… if you’re taking part in in Laborious mode, and also you don’t dodge a minimum of 50% of the assaults, you should have some bother. If you’re in Regular, it’s a bit extra [forgiving] than that, and if you’re in Simple… in case you construct your characters accurately, a minimum of, you’ll go by with out having to be a grasp dodger.”
All this strategic depth involves life by dynamic camerawork and the alien fantastic thing about the world of Expedition 33, impressed by the Artwork Deco fashion of France’s Belle Epoque period. Artwork Director Nicholas Maxson-Francombe explains that he needed to keep away from replicating issues he’s already skilled throughout a lifetime of taking part in video games:
“I simply needed to get out of the stuff that we’ve simply seen one million occasions, – science fiction, to area, or zombies, all that form of stuff. I simply needed to get my head out of there and see what I can attempt to give you that was unique for me personally.
“Many of the analysis [I did was into] ceramic textures truly… there are some very unique shapes that I noticed. These shapes actually impressed me to give you the enemies that we see as we speak within the sport. Additionally, it helps for the environments as properly. It was a [painterly] vibe blended with ceramics and going with loopy colours in every single place. It does assist that there’s an incredible story behind it!”
These inspirations actually come collectively on the navigable world map, one other Developer_Direct reveal. That is, but once more, impressed by JRPGs of the previous, modernized, and deliberate by Broche from the beginning.
“Because the day I began engaged on this challenge in Unreal engine, I needed a world map,” he stated. “I really feel prefer it’s such a cool factor that has nearly utterly disappeared from the face of the gaming trade. Like, no person does that anymore, and for me it was such an important and vital a part of what made the old-school JRPGs distinctive. It’s this sense of travelling and [indicating that] we’re an expedition… and we needed the participant to really feel like they’re occurring a grand journey.”
That is when the scale of Expedition 33’s world actually comes into focus. Broche elaborates: “At first, it appears extraordinarily, extraordinarily large. And it is rather large. There are plenty of ranges to search out… hidden bosses to search out additionally on this world map; there are tons of secrets and techniques. And that’s additionally what makes a world map tremendous cool, as a result of it’s similar to it seems like a totally totally different exploration sport… and actually makes you perceive how a lot you’re travelling.”
As a lot as we’ve seen, there’s nonetheless a lot extra that Expedition 33 has ready for us, together with a tenting system and a mechanic the place you battle retailers to unlock extra of their wares. It’s all very formidable for a comparatively small staff – however as soon as once more, each time this staff peels again a layer, we will’t assist however be impressed with what they’re constructing. Expedition 33 is perhaps standing on the shoulders of giants, nevertheless it’s starting to appear like it may turn out to be an RPG touchpoint all of its personal.
That isn’t all we now have for you on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33; in an upcoming episode of The Official Xbox Podcast, the staff at Sandfall Interactive shares further behind-the-scenes insights into the event of the sport, together with a brand new gameplay video. Pre-order as we speak and look out for it on Xbox Wire, YouTube, and Official Xbox Podcast feeds subsequent week!
