Oblivion Remaster Amplified Quality RPGs, Says Publisher

When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered alongside the launch of the RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many assumed one title would overshadow the other. However, the publisher of Clair Obscur claims not only did Oblivion's release not hurt their game, but it actually provided a boost by increasing excitement for the RPG genre as a whole.

Matt Handrahan, senior portfolio manager at Kepler Interactive, detailed to The Game Business how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 achieved a successful launch against these odds.

To provide context, RPG enthusiasts were faced with a tough decision: diving into hundreds of hours of adventure in Oblivion's Cyrodiil or embarking on an expedition to defeat the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The simultaneous release of both games in the same week sparked a mix of delighted and critical reactions from the RPG community, along with a playful remark from Kepler Interactive itself.

In a post on X/Twitter, Kepler shared a comical edited image showing characters from Clair Obscur stepping into an Oblivion Gate, with the caption "omg its like barbenheimer" — a lighthearted reference to the same-day theatrical release of the Barbie and Oppenheimer films in 2023.

omg its like barbenheimer pic.twitter.com/TN1AFzdggc

— Kepler Interactive (@Kepler_Interact) April 22, 2025

Microsoft, which owns Oblivion developer Bethesda and had strongly supported Clair Obscur since its debut at an Xbox Showcase the previous year, faced criticism for stealth-releasing Oblivion on the same day as Clair Obscur, especially since both games were available on Game Pass from day one.

But according to Handrahan, there was no cause for concern. “We always knew Expedition 33 had a very distinct identity,” Handrahan explained. “From my time in the press, I viewed Western-style RPGs and Japanese-style RPGs as appealing to quite different audiences. I knew many people who would play an Elder Scrolls game but not necessarily try a Final Fantasy title, and vice versa.

“Additionally, by the time our launch arrived, we had built our own momentum and were confident we could stand alongside it. Other factors, like our pricing and inclusion in Game Pass, assured us of significant interest. We felt confident in our position, and the launch went as well as we could have hoped. In fact, being close to Oblivion’s release didn’t seem to damage our performance at all. In many ways, I believe it simply drew more attention to high-quality RPGs that week, getting everyone thinking and talking about the genre.”

Did You Play The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or Both?

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion RemasteredClair Obscur: Expedition 33Both

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Clair Obscur has proven to be a major success for Kepler and its French developer, Sandfall Interactive, selling over one million copies in just three days and achieving impressive concurrent player counts on Steam. Its performance has been so strong that French President Macron commended the development team.

Bethesda announced that Oblivion Remastered has attracted over four million players since its launch, though specific sales figures have not been disclosed. It has also recorded high concurrent player numbers on Steam.

The Game Business cited data from Ampere indicating that 35% of Clair Obscur players also played Oblivion Remastered, pointing to significant audience overlap. This overlap is largely attributed to both titles launching on Game Pass, with the percentage being lower among Steam and PlayStation 5 players.

For more on Oblivion Remastered, check out our report on a player who managed to break free from Cyrodiil's borders to explore Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell — the speculated location for The Elder Scrolls VI.

We also offer a detailed guide covering all content in Oblivion Remastered, featuring an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and much more.

As for Clair Obscur, be sure to review our essential tips for key information before starting the game.