Clair Obscur Producer Won't Cave to Fan Pressures - Players For Life | Gaming News, Reviews & Creative Media Hub

Key Takeaways

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Sandfall Interactive, after the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, is prioritizing authenticity and trusting their instincts for their next project.
The studio has hinted at a potential sequel or anthology series within the Clair Obscur universe, similar to Final Fantasy.
Sandfalls next game, planned for release around 2030 or 2031, will build upon the foundation laid by Expedition 33.
Kepler Interactive, developers of Clair Obscur, are launching an upcoming untitled game on PC and consoles in 2023, featuring both single-player and multiplayer modes.

Clair Obscur Studio Faces Pressure but Prioritizes Authenticity for Next Project

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the debut title from French studio Sandfall Interactive, achieved considerable success, including winning awards at Geoff Keighley’s event. This recognition has brought immense pressure to the studio as they move forward. In an interview with Edge magazine, cofounder and COO of Sandfall, Francois Meurisse, downplayed the pressure on the studio following the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen echoed this sentiment, stating that Sandfall will continue to be guided by their own personal tastes. “Ive seen too many series and books lose themselves trying to please many people, ultimately losing the heart of what they were,” Svedberg-Yen said, adding, “We feel we need to trust our instincts and continue believing in the vision behind the studio.” Sandfall intends for their next project to benefit from the experience and confidence gained during the development of Expedition 33. While Svedberg-Yen acknowledged the expectations of the studio’s growing fanbase, she emphasized that Sandfall’s creative direction would remain the guiding principle, as their primary goal is to create something they genuinely enjoy.

Clair Obscur Anthology Expands with New Game in Sight (2023-2031)

Cofounder and lead programmer Tom Guillermin believes the current team size is ideal for developing another ambitious turn-based RPG, and Sandfall has hinted at the possibility of a sequel set in the same universe, envisioning Clair Obscur as a potential anthology series similar to Final Fantasy. Meurisse told Edge that the studio already has several promising ideas for a new game that they are eager to explore. Given the development timeline for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall’s next title could follow a similar schedule, potentially releasing around 2030 or 2031. Sandfall’s next game will arrive no earlier than 2026, building upon the foundation laid by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In related news, Clair Obscur’s developers at Kepler Interactive have announced plans to launch their upcoming, currently untitled game on PC and consoles in 2023. The team has been developing the game, which will feature both single-player and multiplayer modes, for approximately two years.

In Case You Missed It

In our gaming news roundup, we’ve got some fascinating reads for you. First off, Jonathan Dubinski takes a deep dive into the recent shake-up at ZeniMax Online Studios with his article “Elder Scrolls Online Leader Departs Due to Microsoft” (published January 2nd, 2026). Here, he explores Matt Firor’s unexpected departure after nearly two decades and reveals how creative differences with Microsoft’s restructuring played a role. If you’re curious about what’s happening behind the scenes of one of the world’s most popular MMORPGs, check it out here Elder Scrolls Online Leader Departs Due to Microsoft. Meanwhile, Marcus Thompson has been crunching some numbers and his findings are surprising indeed. In “Xbox Endures Historic Collapse in UK with Worst Annual Sales Ever” (published on 2026-01-04), he reveals a staggering 39% drop in Xbox sales within the UK market, making it their worst performance ever in that region. While the overall hardware market saw a decrease, Xbox was hit particularly hard, raising some strategic concerns for the future. You can check out this insightful analysis here Xbox Endures Historic Collapse in UK with Worst Annual Sales Ever. But it’s not all doom and gloom in our gaming news. Marcus Thompson also brings us the fascinating story of Sandfall Interactive’s internal projections for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in his piece “Before Release, Sandfall Believed Clair Obscur Would Score Just 80 on Metacritic” (published January 2nd, 2026). Despite their modest expectations, this extraordinary game shattered records and earned a remarkable 92 Metacritic score. Head over to Before Release, Sandfall Believed Clair Obscur Would Score Just 80 on Metacritic to discover the incredible story behind this critical darling.