Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Director Was Bored at Ubisoft So He Made a 2025 GotY Contender

Discover how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the highest-rated game of 2025, was born out of boredom and a desire for innovation. Dive into the story of how Sandfall Interactive was formed and the journey that led to creating this instant classic.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Made Out of Boredom

Doing Something Different

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has rapidly become an instant classic, earning the title of the highest-rated game of 2025 and selling over 1 million copies in just three days. What's astonishing is that this game-of-the-year contender was conceived out of sheer boredom and a yearning for something fresh and different.

In an interview with BBC News on May 4, the developers from Sandfall Interactive shared the origin story of the game. Director Guillaume Broche disclosed that the project was initially a personal endeavor to combat his boredom. While working at Ubisoft during the peak of the 2020 pandemic, Broche felt restless and was inspired to create a game that echoed his childhood love for the Final Fantasy series. Thus, his journey to bring his dream to life began, starting with a post on Reddit.

A Stroke of Luck

To realize his vision, Broche reached out to potential team members through Reddit and online forums. At the time, the idea of Expedition 33, a game inspired by the Belle Époque era with classic turn-based gameplay, wasn't immediately popular. Undeterred, Broche persisted in his search for collaborators who shared his passion.

Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, who was in lockdown in Australia, responded to one of Broche's Reddit posts seeking voice actors. She decided to take a chance, 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 took on the role of the lead writer for Expedition 33.

Broche ultimately left Ubisoft to focus entirely on Expedition 33, founding Sandfall Interactive in the process. With funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the team expanded to around 30 members. Many of these new members were found through unconventional means, such as composer Lorien Testard, who connected with the team via 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 emphasized that they "wore many different hats" throughout the game's development. Many core team members had to take on multiple roles to bring the game to life. Svedberg-Yen, for example, was also responsible for translations into 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 origins of Expedition 33 are as enchanting as the game itself. With a blend of boredom and serendipity, Sandfall Interactive crafted a game that promises to be enjoyed for generations. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest news on the game by clicking on the link below!