In 2020, during the peak of the Covid pandemic, Guillaume Broche, like millions of others, found himself yearning for a change. Working with the esteemed French gaming giant Ubisoft, he felt the itch to embark on his own creative journey. Inspired by one of his childhood favorites, the iconic Japanese series Final Fantasy, Guillaume envisioned a unique role-playing game that would eventually become known as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Fast forward five years, and this passion project has turned into one of the most talked-about games of 2025, selling an astonishing one million copies within just three days of its release.
At the heart of Expedition 33 lies a captivating narrative set in the fictional world of Lumiere, dominated by a colossal monolith displaying a glowing numeral. Each year, a mysterious entity known as The Paintress emerges to lower this number, leading to the disappearance of everyone at that age. This intriguing premise sets the stage for an epic quest aimed at destroying The Paintress. What further distinguishes this game is its aesthetic, drawing inspiration from 19th-century France, and its classic turn-based battle mechanics, which defy the conventional belief that modern players prefer more action-oriented gameplay.
Five years ago, as Guillaume began to shape his vision for Clair Obscur, he faced the challenge of assembling a team. Undeterred, he turned to Reddit and various online forums, sending out calls for collaborators. One of the first to respond was Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, who was in lockdown in Australia. "I saw a post on Reddit by Guillaume asking for voice actors to record something for free for a demo," she recalls. Intrigued, she submitted an audition and was initially cast as a major character before transitioning into the role of the team's lead writer.
After departing from Ubisoft, Guillaume established Sandfall Interactive, with a focus on developing Clair Obscur full-time from Montpellier, France. With financial backing from Kepler Interactive, the team expanded to about 30 talented individuals, many of whom were recruited in similarly unconventional ways, much like Jennifer. For instance, composer Lorien Testard was discovered through music-sharing site Soundcloud, despite having no previous experience in video game composition. "I call this the Guillaume effect," Jennifer says. "He's very good at finding really cool people." Guillaume modestly attributes his success to the pandemic's creative climate and a bit of luck.
One of the standout features of Expedition 33 is its impressive production quality, which rivals that of games developed by teams of hundreds or even thousands. Guillaume credits recent advancements in gaming technology that allowed his relatively small team to work efficiently. With Kepler's support, Sandfall attracted high-profile actors, including Charlie Cox from Daredevil and Andy Serkis from Lord of the Rings, enhancing the game's appeal. Although they sought assistance from external studios and specialists, Jennifer and Guillaume emphasize that the core team often wore multiple hats, contributing in various capacities beyond their traditional roles.
Jennifer notes the remarkable dedication of their team, comprised mostly of junior members who are incredibly invested in the project. "We have, I think, an amazing team mostly of junior people, but they are so incredibly invested in the project and talented," Guillaume expresses. The collaborative spirit and shared vision among the team members have played a crucial role in bringing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to life, resulting in a game that continues to captivate audiences and defy expectations.
