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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not only an impressive Game of the Year candidate, it’s also an enormous sales triumph. Developer Sandfall Interactive along with publisher Kepler Interactive disclosed that this title surpassed five million copies sold, this is even with it being a launch-day addition on Xbox Game Pass.

This achievement came as quite a shock for the team. I was convinced that we'd create a solid title achieving moderate commercial success,” a key executive stated.

Another leading developer noted this title's review aggregate, which currently sits at 93, was the greatest surprise” for everyone compared to what we anticipated and the final result of the field was. Once it was published all staff members was screaming and jumping. It was really frantic.”

This triumph prompted the studio creating a free update for the game featuring fresh areas, foes, along with challenging bosses, as announced is coming in the next few months.

However, as the title expands, fans shouldn't anticipate the team will expand. Our team includes a talented crew with a strong creative director who has a great vision for the project plus upcoming innovations. Our goal is to maintain the small-team dynamic that made this possible and perhaps create large projects one by one,” the executive said.

Their team size generated significant conversation following launch. Some developers, such as the famed director, considered this studio as the “ideal” for creative teams. Although the team is and was indeed a small team versus large developers, one glance at the title's staff list shows that many individuals were involved; Sandfall contracted a Korean team for animation work, for example.

“Some hiring will occur a bit more certainly if we have a future production surge in the coming years,” the executive said. “Yet I picture more of a workshop comprising a handful really talented people capable of producing collective masterpieces.” He noted that the studio's philosophy as developers “is more to maintain the successful elements that enabled this success in the first place.”

Despite being too early for Sandfall to reveal exact details regarding upcoming titles — rest assured, efforts were made — the developers understand what’s at its core. “Turn-based gameplay, forms the foundation of what we built,” a developer said. “It's still premature to specify future passions, but it's important also to remain faithful to our studio's essence through compelling worlds plus innovative play that inspires the team.”

The developer added that the project originated from the visionary “work[ing] on his dream game. We aspire that philosophy will be repeated with upcoming games.”