From the very first time we have been launched to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 eventually June’s Xbox Video games Showcase, it was clear we have been witnessing one thing particular. And, each time this incredible-looking recreation’s debut developer, Sandfall Interactive, has dropped tantalizing glimpses of its debut recreation since then, hype ranges amongst RPG enjoyers solely proceed to rise.
Which brings us to right this moment’s Developer_Direct, the place we traveled to Montpellier, France to fulfill the minds behind probably the most thrilling new RPGs in years, and study greater than ever earlier than. After establishing that this surprisingly small group of creators works out of a French manor(!), the event group peeled again much more layers of their finely crafted mille feuille of an RPG, revealing scrumptious particulars on the sport’s emotional story, authentic world, how its gameplay innovates on classics of the style. In addition they sharedits April 24 launch date; you may 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 Go!
Lately I caught up with a pair members of the Expedition 33 group 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 prospers that accompany all of it. As good because it exhibits up on display screen, the group needed to make sure that the gameplay had the depth to again up its showstopping seems to be.
“We didn’t need the sport to only be a reasonably face”, Guillaume Broche, CEO & Inventive Director, informed us. “We needed it to be like a recreation that looks like an actual recreation. So each character has their very own playstyle and you may actually play them in quite a lot of other ways – however in addition they really feel very totally different from one another, they usually 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 revolutionary 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 then devour these Stains throughout the battle, amplifying her skills in numerous methods; the (pardon the pun) magic is to find the proper mixture on 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” prices.
“So what’s very cool is that, while you play by the sport, you’ll change your gear lots and you’re going to get an increasing number of Lumina and on the finish of the sport you have got a full checklist of passives you could 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 count on gamers to essentially 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 supply, it’s the visceral, real-time parts of the turn-based battle system that leap entrance and heart in each little bit of gameplay we’ve seen. Whereas this can be 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, let’s say, Sekiro-caliber timing could have choices:
“So that you’re not presupposed to parry every part, in fact, that may be far too onerous. So we’ve got issue choices within the recreation, and relying on the problem choices the parry window and dodge window will probably be larger or smaller… in case you are taking part in in Onerous 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 in case you are in Straightforward… in case you construct your characters accurately, a minimum of, you’ll go (*33*) with out having to be a grasp dodger.”
All this strategic depth involves life by dynamic camerawork and the alien great thing about the world of Expedition 33, impressed (*33*) the Artwork Deco model 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 1,000,000 occasions, – science fiction, to house, or zombies, all that type of stuff. I simply needed to get my head out of there and see what I can attempt to provide you with that was authentic for me personally.
“Many of the analysis [I did was into] ceramic textures really… there are some very authentic shapes that I noticed. These shapes actually impressed me to provide you with the enemies that we see right this moment within the recreation. Additionally, it helps for the environments as nicely. It was a [painterly] vibe blended with ceramics and going with loopy colours in all places. It does assist that there’s a tremendous story behind it!”
These inspirations actually come collectively on the navigable world map, one other Developer_Direct reveal. That is, but once more, impressed (*33*) JRPGs of the previous, modernized, and deliberate (*33*) Broche from the beginning.
“For the reason that 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 fully disappeared from the face of the gaming business. Like, no person does that anymore, and for me it was such a vital and essential 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: “To start with, it appears extraordinarily, extraordinarily massive. And it is very massive. There are quite a lot of ranges to seek out… hidden bosses to seek 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 looks like a totally totally different exploration recreation… and actually makes you perceive how a lot you’re travelling.”
As a lot as we’ve seen, there’s nonetheless loads 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 bold for a comparatively small group – however as soon as once more, each time this group peels again a layer, we are able to’t assist however be impressed with what they’re constructing. Expedition 33 is likely to be standing on the shoulders of giants, but it surely’s starting to seem like it might grow to be an RPG touchpoint all of its personal.
That isn’t all we’ve got for you on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33; in an upcoming episode of The Official Xbox Podcast, the group at Sandfall Interactive shares extra behind-the-scenes insights into the event of the sport, together with a brand new gameplay video. Pre-order right this moment and look out for it on Xbox Wire, YouTube, and Official Xbox Podcast feeds subsequent week!