"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Director Leaves Ubisoft, Aims for 2025 Game of the Year"

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's director, driven by boredom, crafted what would become the highest-rated game of 2025. This article delves into the motivations behind its creation and the founding of Sandfall Interactive.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Born Out of Boredom

Doing Something Different

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly established itself as an instant classic, achieving the highest rating in 2025 and selling over 1 million copies in just three days. Remarkably, this game-of-the-year contender originated from the director's sense of boredom and a desire to innovate.

In an interview with BBC News on May 4, Guillaume Broche, the director from Sandfall Interactive, shared that the project began as a way to alleviate his restlessness while working at Ubisoft during the peak of the 2020 pandemic. Inspired by his childhood love for the Final Fantasy series, Broche set out to create a similar JRPG, kickstarting his journey on Reddit.

A Stroke of Luck

To bring his vision to life, Broche reached out on Reddit and various online forums, seeking collaborators for his Belle Époque-inspired, turn-based game concept. Despite initial lukewarm responses, his determination paid off when Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, who was under lockdown in Australia, responded to a Reddit post looking for voice actors. Initially cast for a major character, Svedberg-Yen eventually became the game's lead writer.

Broche left Ubisoft to focus entirely on Expedition 33, founding Sandfall Interactive. With funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the team grew to about 30 members, many of whom were found through unconventional means, such as composer Lorien Testard, who connected via Soundcloud. The support from Kepler Interactive also enabled them to enlist renowned actors like Charlie Cox, Ben Starr, Jennifer English, and Andy Serkis.

Despite the team's expansion, Broche and Svedberg-Yen emphasized their versatility, taking on multiple roles during production. Svedberg-Yen, for instance, handled translations into various languages. Broche praised the team, noting, "We have, I think, an amazing team mostly of junior people but they are so incredibly invested in the project and talented."

The magical origins of Expedition 33 mirror the enchanting experience of the game itself. Fueled by boredom and a bit of luck, Sandfall Interactive has created a timeless game that promises to captivate players for years to come. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest news by clicking on our article below!