Discover how boredom led to the creation of 2025's highest-rated game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and how Sandfall Interactive came to be.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Made Out of Boredom
Doing Something Different
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly risen to become an instant classic, earning the title of the highest-rated game of 2025 and selling over 1 million copies within just three days. What's even more astonishing is that this game-of-the-year contender was born out of sheer boredom and a desire to innovate.
In a revealing interview with BBC News on May 4, the team at Sandfall Interactive shared the origins of their groundbreaking game. Director Guillaume Broche admitted that the project began as a way to alleviate his restlessness while working at Ubisoft during the peak of the 2020 pandemic. Inspired by his childhood love for the Final Fantasy series, Broche embarked on a quest to create something similar, starting his journey on Reddit.
A Stroke of Luck
To bring his vision to life, Broche reached out to potential collaborators through Reddit and various online forums. At the time, the concept of Expedition 33, with its Belle Époque-inspired setting and classic turn-based gameplay, wasn't an instant hit. Yet, Broche's determination never wavered.
During lockdown in Australia, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen stumbled upon Broche's call for voice actors on Reddit. Intrigued, she decided to give it a shot. "I thought, 'I've never done this before, but it sounds interesting,' so I sent in an audition," Svedberg-Yen recalled. Initially cast as a major character, she eventually became the lead writer for Expedition 33.
Broche eventually left Ubisoft to focus entirely on Expedition 33, founding Sandfall Interactive. With funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the team expanded to around 30 members, many of whom were found through unconventional channels, such as composer Lorien Testard, who connected via Soundcloud.
With Kepler Interactive's backing, Sandfall Interactive was able to enlist 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), adding star power to the project.
Despite the growing team, Broche and Svedberg-Yen noted that everyone "wore many different hats" during production. Svedberg-Yen, for instance, also handled translations into various languages. Broche praised the team, saying, "We have an amazing group, mostly junior members, but they are incredibly invested and talented."
The magical origins of Expedition 33 mirror the enchanting experience of the game itself. Fueled by boredom and a bit of luck, Sandfall Interactive has crafted a game that promises to captivate players for generations to come. 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!
