Discover how boredom at Ubisoft led to the creation of 2025's highest-rated game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, by Sandfall Interactive. Dive into the story of its development and the formation of the studio behind this instant classic.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Made Out of Boredom
Doing Something Different
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has swiftly become an iconic title, earning the title of the highest-rated game of 2025 and selling over 1 million copies within just three days. What's fascinating is that this game, hailed as a Game of the Year contender, stemmed from a simple desire to break the monotony.
In a May 4 interview with BBC News, Sandfall Interactive's developers shared the origin story of the game. Director Guillaume Broche explained that the project was born out of his need to alleviate boredom. While working at Ubisoft during the peak of the 2020 pandemic, he felt restless and conceived the idea for a new game.
A lifelong fan of the Final Fantasy series, Broche dreamed of creating a similar JRPG. His journey to realize this vision began on Reddit.
A Stroke of Luck
To bring his vision to life, Broche reached out on Reddit and various online forums, seeking team members. Despite the initial lukewarm reception to the concept of Expedition 33—a game inspired by the Belle Époque with classic turn-based mechanics—he persisted.
During Australia's lockdown, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen responded to one of Broche's Reddit posts seeking voice actors. "I was like: 'I've never done that, it sounds kinda cool', so I sent him an audition," she recalled. Initially cast for a major character, she eventually became the lead writer for Expedition 33.
Broche left Ubisoft to focus entirely on Expedition 33, establishing Sandfall Interactive. With funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the team grew to about 30 members. Many were recruited unconventionally, such as composer Lorien Testard, who connected via Soundcloud.
Thanks to Kepler Interactive's backing, the team could 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).
Despite the team's expansion, Broche and Svedberg-Yen emphasized their versatility during production. "We wore many different hats," they noted. Svedberg-Yen also handled 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 enchanting origin story of Expedition 33 mirrors the magic of the game itself. Driven by boredom and fueled by serendipity, Sandfall Interactive crafted a timeless game that promises to captivate players for years. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest news by clicking on our article below!
