Tag: Kepler Interactive
News The Expedition 33 Story Keeps on Getting Better with 'Unusual' Sales Increase
Thanks to word of mouth from fans
The success story that is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 shows no signs of slowing down, as new data confirms the RPG generated more revenue in its second month on the market than the first. According to Newzoo (via GamesIndustry.Biz), this is "unusual for a premium title". It's the other way around generally, and so...
News Actor Charlie Cox Feels Like a 'Total Fraud' After Expedition 33's Success
"I was in the studio for four hours maybe"
Daredevil actor Charlie Cox, who brilliantly plays Gustave in Sandfall Interactive’s breakout RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, says he feels like a “total fraud” when people congratulate him for his contribution to the game. The turn-based adventure is one of the highest rated games of the year, even...
Mini Review Rematch (PS5) - Fun, Fresh Football Game Holds Huge Potential
All hail FIFU
Rematch is very close to being a real blinder. An online multiplayer football game in which every player controls an individual person on the pitch, it's a totally fresh take on the sport that takes more than a little inspiration from Rocket League, and the result is fantastic. Playable in 3v3, 4v4, or 5v5 matches, Rematch plonks you...
News Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Teases Big Improvements for Future Updates
For the sake of tomorrow
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may be a frontrunner for Game of the Year, but the near universal praise isn't stopping its developer from working on potential improvements. Sandfall Interactive has taken to social media in order to tease the studio's current trajectory. As you may already know, the RPG has been a hit beyond...
Patch notes revealed
A new patch for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been revealed, and it makes some pretty interesting changes to how the game is balanced. Update 1.3.0 is out now on PC, and we assume that it won't be far off on PS5. We'll update and republish this article when it's available to download on Sony's system. Again, the headline act...
News Expedition 33 Could Get Much Requested Photo Mode in Future Update on PS5
"It's definitely something that we would like to do"
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been a barnstorming success for developer Sandfall Studios, but it sounds like the team may not quite be finished with the turn-based RPG. Fans have been making various feature requests for the game, including a photo mode allowing them to snap some cool pics...
News Very Fittingly, Expedition 33 Has Sold 3.3 Million Copies in 33 Days
Not counting Game Pass numbers either
As of today, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sold 3.3 million copies in the 33 days since its release, Sandfall Interactive announced. How fitting is that? In a Bluesky post, the developer spoke of the RPG's breakout success, calling the sales update a "surreal moment" and thanking everyone for playing. A press...
News After Pre-Launch Sellout, Expedition 33 Offers Collector's Edition Content Standalone
The Monolith Set available to pre-order now
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 team Sandfall Interactive has today opened up pre-orders for the contents of its Collector's Edition that sold out months before the PS5 game's release. Available now at a reduced price of £99.99 / $119.99, the Monolith Set comes with all the items included in the original...
News Breakout PS5 Hit Expedition 33 Is Getting an Official Art Book This Year
Book it
French art book manufacturer Pix’n Love has announced it’s collaborating with Kepler Interactive and Sandfall Games on a new piece featuring the fractured world of breakout hit Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. While it’s still super early, you can expect the book to feature concept art, illustrations, sketches, character models, and...
News Expedition 33 Dev to Turn the Game's Best Character into a Plushie
You know the one
Esquie is the best, most charming and delightful character in all of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and if you disagree, then we're sorry to hear you're wrong. This adorable chap has the ability to put a smile on your face every single time he is on screen, from the funny little phrases he'll say as you explore The Continent to his...
News Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Struggles for Sales in Japan, Despite JRPG Inspirations
Obscured
One of 2025's early frontrunners for Game of the Year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been one heck of a success story for developer Sandfall Interactive — but it seems as though the title hasn't caught on in Japan. According to the latest sales charts from the region, the title managed to move just 9,800 copies on PS5, following its...
And it's only May
The levels of praise for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have been off the charts since it launched a few weeks back, and now that more people are rolling credits on the RPG, it's getting some additional Game of the Year talk. Case in point: Kim Hyung-tae, director of Stellar Blade and founder of its developer, Shift Up, has taken to...
News Expedition 33 Update Now Available on PS5, Nerfs Maelle's Broken Attack and More
Here are all the patch notes
Sandfall Interactive, the developer behind the hit RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, is planning to nerf the game's most broken attack. While the studio actively wants its players "to be able to break the game", it says on social media that one of Maelle's late-game skills, Stendhal, is simply too powerful in its current...
News Expedition 33's Awesome Soundtrack Is Blowing Up, and Fans Think It Holds a Clue About DLC
A life to dream
It's well documented that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been a big breakout success, and just one reason that may be the case comes down to its fantastic original soundtrack. The music, of which there is a staggering eight hours, is really striking a chord with the game's audience, to the point that it's taking over certain music...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
Just to be Clair
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has taken the gaming world by storm since its release just under a couple of weeks ago. The uniquely weird and arguably innovative RPG has done incredibly well for itself, racking up some of the highest review scores of the year before selling over 2 million copies worldwide. Talk about a breakout hit!...
News Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 a Proper Breakout Hit, Now at 2 Million Copies Sold
From strength to strength
Sandfall Interactive has confirmed its turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has now sold over two million copies in less than two weeks. The developer's first game as a collective, it's proving to be a true breakout hit. Writing on Bluesky, the French team said: "Twelve days in, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has...
News Expedition 33 Is Increasing in Popularity with Each Successive Week
The only way is up
Clair Obsur: Expedition 33 is getting more popular as time passes. It’s not unusual for a game to attract peak concurrent players on launch day, and decline from there. Sometimes the number increases during said release’s first weekend, but rarely does it get bigger from that point on. This is especially true with single...
News Plenty of People Are Playing Expedition 33 on PS5, Despite Having to Actually Buy It
PlayStation players engaging for longer
Whenever a game is included as part of a subscription, you’re always going to see it get a boost in players. That much is true of PS Plus, and it’s also the case with Xbox Game Pass. But despite Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launching as part of Microsoft’s service, plenty of players are paying for the...
News Expedition 33's Outstanding Critical Reception Receives Recognition from French President
Et voila
France is home to some major video game talent, including Ubisoft and Nacon, but the breakout success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is different. This game has been built by a relatively small team – although not quite as tiny as you may have seen – and is the debut project from a new developer. To be a Game of the Year frontrunner is...
News Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 DLC Is on the Cards After Positive Reception
"I'd say chances are good"
Sandfall Interactive may well expand on the base game of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with DLC in the future, as its lead writer says the chances of an expansion coming are "good". Responding to an Instagram DM from a fan (via Vice), lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen said that due to the massively positive reception the...
News Expedition 33 Dev Working Around the Clock to Re-Stock Boxed PS5 Copies
Sold out in many regions
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is exceeding all expectations, both critically and commercially. That means it’s selling out at retail, with many fans unable to get their hands on a physical PS5 copy. Writing on X (or Twitter), developer Sandfall Interactive has acknowledged the issues, and says it’s working hard to rectify...
News PS5 RPG Expedition 33 Has Some of the Highest User Ratings Ever
Like, of all time
People love Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Like, really love it. Not content with attracting a 92 on Metacritic from media – powered by our very own 9/10 review score – the turn-based RPG has attracted some of the highest user ratings in the history of the website. Now, we all know user ratings don’t account for much on the...
News Expedition 33's Sublime Success Sparks Chatter About Final Fantasy's Future
Your turn, Square Enix
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s breakout success has sparked fraught conversations on social media regarding the future of the Final Fantasy franchise. Some fans feel that Square Enix’s decision to transition the series in a more action-oriented direction, in search of attracting more mainstream players, has irreparably...
News Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Doubles Its Sales, Now Sold 1 Million Units
And that doesn't include Game Pass
Concerns that the sudden launch of Oblivion Remastered might hurt the sales of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may not be warranted after all. On its social accounts, developer Sandfall Interactive has announced the new RPG has reached a sales milestone of 500,000 after just 24 hours. "A milestone for us, reached...
Poll Are You Playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
No longer obscured
A deeply intriguing project ever since it was first announced just under a year ago, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has managed to wow just about everyone now that it's here. The story-driven RPG was met with near universal acclaim when the reviews dropped earlier this week. It's currently one of the highest-rated releases of 2025...
News Bethesda Shows Solidarity with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 After Oblivion Remastered Launch
Handshake emoji
Not one but two big RPGs have launched this week, and the publishers are exchanging pleasantries on social media. Bethesda of course made a huge splash by shadow-dropping The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, but it's released just a couple of days before the launch of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a brand new RPG. The latter...
Review Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PS5) - Daring, Quirky RPG Is an Absolute Must-Play
Paint by numbers
A quirky RPG not quite like anything you’ve played before, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of those games where the less you know going in, the better. Many of its systems, themes, and features will feel fairly familiar. However, the way first-time studio Sandfall Interactive has moulded those pieces together is unusual. This...
News PS5 Graphics Modes Make Expedition 33 Either Look or Run Better, PS5 Pro Enhanced Too
A few Trophies teased on top
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 studio Sandfall Interactive has shared some light details surrounding how its imminent RPG will perform on PS5 systems, including the PS5 Pro. On the base PS5, there'll be Performance and Quality Modes that allow you to prioritise either the framerate or visuals. If you've got a PS5 Pro, then...
News Pacific Drive's Endless Expeditions Update Arrives on PS5 in April
Stop, revive, survive
Back in February, Pacific Drive developer Ironwood Studios teased that its next update would be its biggest yet, and they've since drawn back the curtains on Endless Expeditions, a free add-on that will arrive on PS5 on 3rd April. The fourth such content update, Endless Expeditions, adds new cosmetic rewards, an hour of new...
News Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Dev Won't Add Mini Map, Discovery a Key Part of Promising PS5 RPG
In-game story reason for no mini map too
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 studio Sandfall Interactive has revealed it won't be adding a mini map to the upcoming PS5 RPG despite one or two complaints of players getting lost during a recent round of Previews. Speaking to Eurogamer at a recent GDC event, COO Francois Meurisse said the only change it'll be...
News Hotly Anticipated RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Ready for PS5 Launch
Release date set for 24th April
Sandfall Interactive has revealed its promising PS5 title Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has now gone gold, meaning work on the 1.0 version of the RPG is now complete. The developer shared the news on Twitter, where it said it is "incredibly grateful for all the support, and we can’t wait for you to experience the...
Preview Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Looks Stunning, Hits Hard, and Feels Fresh on PS5
33 is the new 80
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an ambitious title heading to PS5 later this year from new studio Sandfall Interactive. However, playing through a three hour demo this week, we would have never guessed this is the French developer’s first project. Expedition 33 is a polished and AAA feeling experience that takes its inspirations...
News Ironwood Studios' Pacific Drive Cruises Past 1 Million Copies Sold
Major update en route
Stressful survival driving sim, Pacific Drive, has passed an impressive sales milestone. Developer Ironwood Studios' debut release sold one million units, and considering that around 35 people worked on it during the peak of development, that's quite the upsell on the reasonably priced vehicle. Launching last February,...
News Expedition 33 Already Putting Its Best Foot Forward for Music Awards
13 minute video goes behind the scenes
Sandfall Interactive has published a new video that provides a deep dive into the musical score of upcoming RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Featuring interviews and voiceover from composer Lorien Testard, it touches on the numerous emotive pieces of the soundtrack as well as the journey singer Alice...
News RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Already Getting Live-Action Film Adaptation
The game's not even out until April
Daring to do what Square Enix no longer cares to, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, from developer Sandfall and publisher Kepler Interactive, immediately turned heads with its almost-unheard-of combination of AAA production values and turn-based combat. We've only seen a bit of the game, and it's not out for another...
News DOOM: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur Will Be Enhanced on PS5 Pro
Ninja Gaiden 4 highly likely, too
Two of the upcoming titles showcased during Xbox’s big Developer Direct [No, we’re not using the underscore – Ed] will play best on PS5 Pro. Well, that’s assuming you prefer to play on console and don’t have a beefy PC rig loitering around. The PS Store pre-order pages for first-person shooter DOOM: The...
News DOOM: The Dark Ages, Expedition 33 News in Next Xbox Developer Direct
Tune in on 23rd January for fresh updates
Microsoft has revealed its next Developer_Direct livestream will take place on 23rd January 2025, and there'll be reason for PS5 owners to watch as DOOM: The Dark Ages and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are confirmed to be part of the new digital showcase. Both titles were announced for PS5 upon their original...
News Eerie Survival Driving Game Pacific Drive Is Getting a TV Adaptation from Horror Legend
Atomic Monster picks up TV rights
An early indie hit in 2024 was Pacific Drive, a unique supernatural survival game that's all about exploring a mysterious exclusion zone in a banged up station wagon. This premise, the loose story, and involved, engrossing gameplay has made it somewhat of a cult hit, and it's still receiving meaningful updates too...
News Physics-Bending Platformer Bionic Bay Warps onto PS5 in March 2025
Let's Bay-blade
Publisher Kepler Interactive has announced a release date for its upcoming 2D platformer, Bionic Bay. Announced earlier in the year, Bionic Bay is a challenging puzzle platformer in which you're able to slow down time, shift gravity, swap positions with objects, and more. You'll use your various abilities to get through...
News PS5 RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Sounds Even Better in French
Magnifique
You may recall hyped RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 recently announced an all-star English voice cast for the game, but it’s amassed an equally impressive array of talent for its native French dub. Among the names involved here are Alexandre Gillet (Captain America) and Sarah Cornibert (Black Mirror). To announce the dub, developer...
News Expedition 33 Dev Confirms $50 Price Is Correct, '30+ Hours of Main Game'
Wants as many people as possible to play RPG
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 team Sandfall Interactive has responded to concerns its debut RPG may come with a catch or some sort of drawback since it's not charging $70 for the game. Taking to X (or Twitter), the studio confirmed the recently listed $50 price point is indeed correct a
News Fans Can't Fathom Why PS5 RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is So Cheap
Budget price for big budget game
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the promising new turnbased RPG from Sandfall Interactive, looks absolutely incredible and has attracted an all-star cast – so why, then, is it so cheap? That’s what fans are pondering, after pre-orders for the title were deployed on Amazon for $49.99 – a budget price in this era of...
News Anticipated PS5 RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Attracts All-Star Cast
Due out Spring 2025
We’re not sure we quite understand how turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has come out of nowhere and completely captured the imagination of the entire games industry, but it’s not letting go with this all-star cast announcement. Despite being developed by a relatively unknown studio, Sandfall Interactive, it’s...
News Pacific Drive's Latest PS5 Update Lets You Tinker with Wide Range of Difficulty Options
Drive your way
Developer Ironwood Studios isn't done with Pacific Drive just yet. Its debut game, a roguelike survival experience about traversing a volatile landscape in a banged-up old car, has been a success for the team, and its latest update is a big one, allowing players to fully customise a huge variety of difficulty parameters. You can get a...
News Turn-Based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Gets 7 Minutes of Gorgeous New PS5 Gameplay
Obscur enough for ya?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 certainly caught the eye when it was first revealed a couple of months back. It's a 'realistic' looking turn-based RPG from French developer Sandfall Interactive, which follows a group of explorers as they delve into otherworldly locations. Conceptually unique and quite beautiful to behold in terms...
Review Cat Quest 3 (PS5) - Fun, Seafaring RPG Doesn't Quite Match Its Pawesome Predecessor
A whisker away
A new entry in The Gentlebros' all-ages action RPG series, Cat Quest 3 opts for a pirate-themed escapade, in which you play as a fearless seafaring feline. In search of a legendary treasure known only as the North Star, you'll explore an open map made up of ocean and islands, often aboard your trusty tub. As we've come to expect, this...
33's a magic number
It feels like a lot of recent RPGs have tried to put unique spins on traditional turn-based combat. For example, Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth took the original game's classic ATB system and incorporated real-time action, and it's a similar story with Trails through Daybreak and its evolved ambush mechanic. Even upcoming...
News Pacific Drive Gets Photo Mode, New Customisation Options, More in Free Update
Paid cosmetics pack also available
Developer Ironwood Studios has just released a big update for its supernatural driving game, Pacific Drive. This is the first major content update for the title, bringing new features and gameplay to the experience for free. Photo mode is perhaps the biggest new addition, allowing you to take snapshots of your...
Mini Review Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn (PS5) - Yeah, It's Pretty Good
Use axe to grind
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is the textbook definition of a good video game. You probably won't think of it much after rolling credits, but in the moment, there's enough in its roughly 12-hour campaign for a fulfilling time. A quick hit of comfort food for the Souls-like audience, it succeeds with fun combat and movement abilities...
News Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Sets the Scene in PS5, PS4 Story Trailer
Always bring a gun to a god fight
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn drops on PS5 and PS4 next week, on 18th July, and to tide us over in the meantime, we've been besieged by a suitably epic story trailer. Developed by New Zealand-based studio A44 Games, Flintlock's narrative is one of vengeance. Playing as Nor, you are aided by a mysterious, foxlike...
