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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn't just a top Game of the Year candidate, but also an enormous financial hit. Studio Sandfall Interactive along with publisher Kepler Interactive announced that this title surpassed 5 million units in sales, and that’s despite it being a day-one release through the Game Pass service.

Its success came as an unexpected turn to Sandfall. I was convinced that we would have a good game garnering some average commercial success,” a senior team member explained.

Another leading developer pointed out this title's review aggregate, now standing at 93, came as the greatest surprise” to the studio relative to “our initial expectations and the final result turned out to be. Because when it dropped everybody in the studio were cheering loudly. The energy was electric.”

This triumph prompted work on a complimentary expansion for the game featuring fresh areas, adversaries, and boss fights, which they said will release sometime soon.

Nevertheless, despite the game's evolution, it's unlikely the studio to grow. “We have a talented crew guided by a visionary director who has a great vision for our work and future concepts. Our goal is to maintain the small-team dynamic that made this possible then develop large projects one by one,” the producer said.

Their team size drummed up significant conversation upon the title's release. Certain industry figures, like Hideo Kojima, viewed this studio as the “ideal” for creative teams. Although the team is and was relatively lean next to major studios, checking the game's credits reveals dozens of people were involved; the French studio contracted a Korean team handling movement and effects, for example.

“We plan to recruit slightly more certainly when facing an increase in development in the coming years,” they commented. “However, I envision rather a creative atelier comprising a handful exceptionally gifted creators capable of producing a work of art together.” It was stated that Sandfall’s vision as a company “aims to keep the successful elements that made this achievement possible originally.”

While it may be too early for Sandfall to say specifically what’s next — believe me, efforts were made — the developers understand their fundamental principles. “Strategic combat, forms the foundation of this project,” a developer explained. “It's still premature to announce our next interests, but it's important also to stay true to our creative core with [a] strong narrative universe and the interesting gameplay that drives our passion.”

The developer added that the project originated from the visionary pursuing his ideal project. It is hoped that's something we can continue with upcoming games.”