"Clair Obscur Director Leaves Ubisoft, Aims for 2025 GotY"

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s director was bored, so he created 2025’s highest-rated game. Dive into the inspiring story of how this game came to be and the formation of Sandfall Interactive.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Made Out of Boredom

Doing Something Different

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly become an instant classic, earning the title of the highest-rated game of 2025 and selling over 1 million copies within just three days. What's fascinating is that this game-of-the-year favorite was born from a moment of boredom and a desire to innovate.

In an interview with BBC News on May 4, the developers at Sandfall Interactive shared the origins of the game. Director Guillaume Broche explained that the project began as a way to alleviate his boredom 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 game that would fulfill his long-held dream. His journey began with a simple post on Reddit.

A Stroke of Luck

To turn his vision into reality, Broche reached out to potential team members through Reddit and other online forums. At the time, the concept of Expedition 33, with its Belle Époque-inspired turn-based gameplay, wasn't an instant hit. However, Broche's persistence paid off.

While under lockdown in Australia, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen came across one of Broche's posts looking for voice actors. Intrigued, she decided to audition, saying, "I was like: 'I've never done that, it sounds kinda cool', so I sent him an audition." Initially cast as a major character, Svedberg-Yen eventually became the lead writer for Expedition 33.

Broche eventually left Ubisoft to focus entirely on Expedition 33, founding Sandfall Interactive. With funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the team grew to around 30 members, many of whom were found through unconventional means. For instance, composer Lorien Testard joined after connecting with the team through Soundcloud.

Thanks to Kepler Interactive’s support, Sandfall Interactive was able to collaborate with renowned actors like Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI), Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate 3), and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings), among others.

Despite the team's growth, Broche and Svedberg-Yen took on multiple roles during the game’s development. Svedberg-Yen, for example, handled translations in various languages. Broche praised the team, saying, "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 reflect the enchanting nature of the game itself. With a blend of boredom, luck, and dedication, Sandfall Interactive crafted a game that promises to captivate players for generations. 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!