The Turn-Based RPG Renaissance Continues
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the Belle Époque-inspired turn-based RPG from French indie studio Sandfall Interactive, has sold over 5 million copies worldwide since launching on April 24, 2025. The announcement came October 8, celebrating a milestone that few could have predicted for a debut title from a previously unknown developer in a genre that many considered commercially dead. To thank players for their overwhelming support, Sandfall teased a major free content update currently in development featuring a new playable location, challenging late-game boss battles, character costumes, and highly requested quality-of-life improvements.
This sales figure is particularly remarkable given that Expedition 33 launched day-one on Xbox Game Pass, meaning millions of players accessed the game through subscription rather than direct purchase. The combination of strong traditional sales across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store), and Game Pass engagement demonstrates genuine broad appeal rather than success on a single platform or business model. The game is still not available on Nintendo Switch, making these numbers even more impressive as they exclude what’s typically a significant platform for indie and JRPG titles.
A Thank-You Update for the Community
Creative Director Guillaume Broche emphasized that the upcoming update isn’t a massive paid DLC expansion but rather a free thank-you gift to the community. “It’s not a super big DLC extension with hours of content,” Broche told Eurogamer. “It’s more of a thank-you gift from us. You will have quite a few things to do and collect…[and] some quality of life [additions] that are very highly requested by the community.”
The update will include a brand-new playable environment that takes Expedition 33’s party to an unexplored location with new enemy encounters and surprises. Challenging new boss battles aim to give late-game players fresh content after completing the main story. Each expedition member receives new costume options, expanding character customization. The update also adds seven new language localizations – Czech, Ukrainian, Latin American Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian – bringing total supported languages to 19.
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Sales | Over 5 million copies |
| Launch Date | April 24, 2025 |
| Time to Milestone | 5 months |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Steam, GOG, Epic) |
| Day-One Game Pass | Yes (Xbox/PC) |
| Steam Peak Players | 145,063 (May 4, 2025) |
| Current Steam Players | ~23,000 concurrent (October 2025) |
Planned Update Features
- New playable location with unique environments
- New enemy encounters and surprises
- Challenging late-game boss battles
- New costumes for all party members
- Quality-of-life improvements requested by community
- Seven new language localizations
- Additional unannounced surprises
- Free for all players across all platforms
The Soundtrack’s Incredible Success
Beyond the game itself, Clair Obscur’s emotional soundtrack composed by Lorien Testard has become a phenomenon in its own right. The soundtrack has accumulated over 333 million track streams across digital music platforms since release, an extraordinary figure for a video game score. It spent over 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Classical & Classical Crossover Album charts and reached No. 1 on iTunes Top 100 Albums Chart in nine different countries, including France – the home of Montpellier-based Sandfall Interactive.
This musical success reflects the game’s artistic ambitions. The score blends orchestral arrangements with contemporary elements, perfectly capturing the Belle Époque aesthetic while serving the game’s emotional narrative beats. Players frequently cite the soundtrack as one of Expedition 33’s standout features, with many streaming it independently of gameplay. The fact that a video game soundtrack competed successfully on mainstream music charts demonstrates both the quality of Testard’s composition and the cultural reach of Expedition 33.
What Made Expedition 33 So Special
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 succeeds by modernizing turn-based JRPG combat while respecting genre traditions. The game blends classic turn-based structure with real-time action mechanics, requiring players to actively parry, dodge, or counter enemy attacks rather than passively watching animations. Successful parries lead to devastating counterattacks, while well-timed dodges avoid damage entirely. During offensive turns, players enhance special abilities through quick-time events and can free-aim ranged weapons to target enemy weak points.
Each of the diverse party members brings unique combat mechanics. Gustave wields a mechanical Lumina converter arm that builds energy for electrical Overcharge attacks. Lune stores magical Stains after casting spells, empowering subsequent magic. Maelle dances between various fencing forms based on combat actions. This variety ensures every party member plays differently while maintaining the cohesive turn-based framework.
The setting distinguishes Expedition 33 from fantasy RPG conventions. Inspired by Belle Époque France (roughly 1871-1914), the game features art nouveau aesthetics, impressionist color palettes, and European architectural influences rather than medieval castles or Japanese design sensibilities. The narrative centers on a cursed painter who wakes annually to paint a number on her monolith – everyone of that age turns to smoke and dies. As the countdown reaches 33, the titular expedition sets out to destroy the Paintress before she can paint death again.
The Developer’s Journey
Sandfall Interactive’s success story is particularly inspiring. Creative Director Guillaume Broche started Expedition 33 as a passion project in early 2019 because he was “starving for new turn-based RPG games.” Coming after Persona 5’s breakout Western success, Broche believed if he wanted more turn-based RPGs, others must want them too. What began as a small team’s dream project evolved into one of 2025’s biggest indie hits.
The studio committed to open development, sharing progress through devlogs, social media, and Discord rather than working in secrecy until announcement. This transparency built community investment before launch, with players following development for years and feeling personally connected to the game’s success. The approach mirrors successful indies like Hades and Hollow Knight, where community engagement throughout development creates passionate advocates rather than just customers.
“The response to our game has been nothing short of incredible,” Broche stated in the milestone announcement. “We spent years working on our dream project, and to know it has resonated with fans around the world in such a powerful way is both wonderful and overwhelming. We’re so grateful to our fans for their love of the world we created, for sharing their own fan art and music covers, for wearing their best Baguette cosplays to conventions, and for being incredibly supportive of our game.”
Critical Reception and Industry Impact
Expedition 33 launched to overwhelmingly positive reviews, with many outlets awarding perfect or near-perfect scores. RPG Site gave it 10/10, praising its innovative combat, gorgeous presentation, and emotional narrative. VICE called it “the turn-based RPG you’ve been dreaming about for years,” emphasizing how the game makes classic combat feel fresh and engaging. PC Gamer highlighted the director’s passion for reviving a genre he felt was underserved, noting that Expedition 33 proves demand exists for high-quality turn-based RPGs.
The game’s success has sparked industry conversations about the viability of turn-based combat in modern gaming. AAA publishers largely abandoned the genre over the past decade, viewing real-time action as more commercially appealing to mainstream audiences. Expedition 33’s 5 million sales in five months – for a debut title from an unknown studio – demonstrates that assumption was flawed. Broche himself noted in interviews that “turn-based RPGs are selling better lately, but the prejudice is still there” within the industry.
Several outlets compared Expedition 33’s impact to other genre-reviving hits. VICE suggested the game might “usher in the renaissance of the turn-based RPG as the AAA world tries (and inevitably fails) to capture that special something” Sandfall achieved. The comparison to how Call of Duty redefined shooters or Breath of the Wild influenced open-world design positions Expedition 33 as potentially trend-setting for RPG development.
Steam Success and Player Retention
Steam data provides additional context for Expedition 33’s performance. The game peaked at 145,063 concurrent players on May 4, 2025, shortly after launch. Five months later in October, the game still maintains approximately 23,000-25,000 concurrent players during peak hours – remarkable retention for a single-player RPG. SteamDB estimates between 2.7-3.7 million owners on Steam alone, suggesting strong performance on the platform despite Game Pass availability on PC.
The game has maintained consistent Twitch viewership with around 8,500 viewers during typical streaming hours and an all-time peak of 161,435 viewers. This streaming success is unusual for turn-based RPGs, which typically don’t generate the spectacle audiences expect from popular Twitch content. Expedition 33’s dynamic combat and gorgeous visuals apparently translate well to passive viewing, helping maintain awareness and drive ongoing sales.
Lessons for Indie Developers
Expedition 33’s success offers several lessons for independent developers. First, genre “death” is often overstated – audiences exist for well-executed experiences in supposedly dead genres. Second, distinctive art direction and cultural perspectives (Belle Époque France versus generic medieval fantasy) help games stand out in crowded markets. Third, modernizing classic gameplay rather than completely abandoning it can appeal to both nostalgic players and newcomers.
The game also demonstrates that Game Pass inclusion doesn’t necessarily cannibalize direct sales. Some developers worry Game Pass devalues games or reduces purchasing. Expedition 33 launched day-one on Game Pass yet still sold 5 million copies across platforms. The exposure from Game Pass likely drove PlayStation and Steam purchases from players who discovered the game through subscription then bought it on preferred platforms or to support the developers.
What Comes Next for Sandfall
Following the thank-you update, Sandfall’s long-term plans remain mysterious. In August 2025, Broche teased that the studio “may be cooking” regarding DLC or additional content, but no major paid expansions have been announced. The upcoming free update sounds substantial but explicitly isn’t a full DLC. Whether Sandfall will create significant paid expansions, begin work on Expedition 33 sequels, or start entirely new projects remains to be seen.
During an interview with Polygon, Sandfall emphasized they want to remain a small, focused studio despite their runaway success. “We don’t want to become huge,” the team stated. “We want to keep the spirit of what made Expedition 33 special – a passionate team making games we love.” This philosophy suggests Sandfall won’t immediately expand into a large studio churning out annual releases, instead preferring to maintain creative control and intimate development culture.
Community Response – Appreciation and Anticipation
The Reddit and social media response to the 5 million sales announcement has been overwhelmingly positive. Players express genuine happiness for Sandfall’s success, with many noting how refreshing it feels to see a quality indie game rewarded commercially. The fact that Sandfall is celebrating with free content rather than immediate paid DLC has generated additional goodwill, reinforcing the studio’s community-first reputation.
Fan art, music covers, and cosplay have flourished around Expedition 33, with Broche specifically thanking players for their creative expressions. The “Baguette cosplays” reference in the official statement nods to a recurring character design element that fans embraced enthusiastically. This level of community engagement typically requires years to develop, making it remarkable that Expedition 33 fostered such passion in just five months.
FAQs
How many copies has Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sold?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sold over 5 million copies worldwide across all platforms since launching April 24, 2025 – reaching this milestone in just five months.
Is Expedition 33 on Xbox Game Pass?
Yes, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launched day-one on Xbox Game Pass for both console and PC. Despite Game Pass availability, the game still achieved 5 million direct sales.
What platforms is Expedition 33 available on?
The game is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store. It is not yet available on Nintendo Switch or older generation consoles.
What’s in the free content update?
The upcoming free update includes a new playable location with new enemies, challenging late-game boss battles, new costumes for all party members, quality-of-life improvements, seven new language localizations, and additional unannounced surprises.
Who developed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
Sandfall Interactive, a French independent studio based in Montpellier, developed Expedition 33. It’s the studio’s debut title, started as a passion project by Creative Director Guillaume Broche in 2019.
When will the free content update release?
No specific release date has been announced. Sandfall stated they’re currently developing the update and will share more details soon. Based on typical development timelines, late 2025 or early 2026 seems likely.
What type of game is Expedition 33?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG with real-time action mechanics. Combat requires active parrying, dodging, and timing rather than passive turn-watching, blending classic JRPG structure with modern interactive elements.
How successful was the Expedition 33 soundtrack?
The soundtrack by Lorien Testard has over 333 million streams, spent 10+ weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Classical & Classical Crossover Album charts, and reached No. 1 on iTunes in nine countries.
Conclusion
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s journey from passion project to 5-million-selling phenomenon represents everything inspiring about independent game development. Sandfall Interactive believed audiences existed for high-quality turn-based RPGs despite industry consensus declaring the genre commercially dead, and they were spectacularly vindicated. The combination of innovative combat that modernizes classic mechanics, distinctive Belle Époque aesthetics, emotional storytelling, and a soundtrack that topped Billboard charts created something genuinely special that resonated far beyond typical JRPG enthusiast circles. The decision to celebrate this milestone with free content rather than immediate paid DLC demonstrates Sandfall’s commitment to community over quick monetization, building long-term goodwill that will serve them well for future projects. Whether they create Expedition 33 sequels, major expansions, or entirely new games, Sandfall has proven they understand what makes turn-based RPGs compelling in 2025 – respecting genre traditions while fearlessly modernizing what needed improvement. For a genre many declared dead or niche, 5 million sales in five months sends a clear message to the industry: passionate developers making the games they love will find audiences hungry for exactly those experiences.