Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launched in 2025 and immediately stood out as one of the year’s biggest revelations.
The studio’s first game drew high praise for its gorgeous presentation, creative battles, and moving narrative.
The game reached three million sales in just a few weeks and demonstrated that a small developer can rival bigger ones.
Creative director Guillaume Broche made it clear that Clair Obscur isn’t a one-off but the start of a larger franchise.
What Did Broche Mean by Calling It a Franchise?
In an interview, Broche explained that Clair Obscur is the umbrella name for the series, while Expedition 33 represents just one story within that world.
He stressed that more is ahead, but stopped short of promising a continuation. He prefers to start each new entry fresh, forgetting past work so it doesn’t shape what comes next.
The concept implies the series could unfold as a collection of self-contained stories connected by recurring themes or aesthetics.
What Inspired Broche’s Franchise Vision?
Broche named Final Fantasy as one of his main influences, and the comparison fits his perspective on Clair Obscur.
Much like Square Enix’s long-standing franchise, the focus isn’t on retelling the same stories but on reinventing the world and its characters while keeping some familiar elements.
That suggests the Dessandre family’s story won’t see a traditional sequel, but upcoming games could highlight different perspectives inside the same universe.
At the same time, Broche acknowledged how difficult it is to move on from a project as personal as Expedition 33.
He described the game as a fusion of his love for storytelling, art, and design, and finding a “new place of joy and sincerity” for the next project has been a challenge. Still, he made it clear that the journey is far from over.
How Will Sandfall Approach the Future?
Despite the commercial success, Broche insists that Sandfall has no intention of ballooning into a massive AAA studio.
He believes bigger is not always better, especially in an age when sprawling 200-hour RPGs often go unfinished.
Instead, he argues that compact, 30-hour experiences can be just as fulfilling and more digestible for modern players.
He feels Unreal Engine 5 gives small teams the ability to achieve big things without compromising artistry.
That philosophy extends to pricing as well. Expedition 33 came out at $50, which was lower than many anticipated because the game had modest development costs.
Broche suggested upcoming games will follow the same model of compact RPGs, priced reasonably and fully realized.
The direction of the next game is unclear, but Clair Obscur has become a franchise, and Expedition 33 was the first step.
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