"Clair Obscur Director, Bored at Ubisoft, Crafts 2025 GotY Contender"

Discover the captivating story behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the highest-rated game of 2025 that sold over 1 million copies in just three days. Learn how the game was born out of boredom and the journey of Sandfall Interactive's formation.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Made Out of Boredom

Doing Something Different

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has swiftly become an instant classic, earning the title of the highest-rated game of 2025. Surprisingly, this game-of-the-year favorite originated from the director's boredom and a desire to innovate.

In an interview with BBC News on May 4, Guillaume Broche of Sandfall Interactive shared the origins of the game. While working at Ubisoft during the peak of the 2020 pandemic, Broche felt restless and conceived the idea for a new game. Inspired by his childhood love for the Final Fantasy series, he embarked on a mission to create a similar JRPG experience, starting his journey on Reddit.

A Stroke of Luck

To bring his vision to life, Broche reached out on Reddit and various online forums, seeking collaborators for his Belle Époque-inspired turn-based game. Despite the initial lack of enthusiasm for the concept, he persisted and eventually connected with Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, who was under lockdown in Australia. Intrigued by a Reddit post calling for voice actors, Svedberg-Yen auditioned and was initially cast as a major character before becoming the lead writer for Expedition 33.

Broche left Ubisoft to focus entirely on Expedition 33, founding Sandfall Interactive. With funding from Kepler Interactive, the team grew to about 30 members, many of whom were found through unconventional means. Composer Lorien Testard, for instance, was discovered via Soundcloud. The support from Kepler Interactive also allowed them to collaborate with renowned actors such as Charlie Cox, Ben Starr, Jennifer English, and Andy Serkis.

Despite the expanding team, Broche and Svedberg-Yen emphasized their multifaceted roles during development. Svedberg-Yen, for example, also handled translations into various languages. Broche praised the team, noting, "We have, I think, an amazing team mostly of junior people but they are so incredibly invested in the project and talented."

The story of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's creation is as enchanting as the game itself. Driven by boredom and fueled by luck, Sandfall Interactive crafted a timeless game that promises to be enjoyed 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 the article below!