During the pandemic in 2020, Guillaume Broche, then a Ubisoft employee, decided to pursue his dream of developing a unique role-playing game, inspired by classics like Final Fantasy. This passion project, named Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has become an extraordinary success five years later, attracting attention worldwide. With a million copies sold in just three days, it topped Spotify's viral charts with its soundtrack and gained praise from none other than French President Emmanuel Macron.
Set in the fictional world of Lumiere, the game revolves around The Paintress, an enigmatic entity that mysteriously reduces the population by one each year. The players embark on an adventure to confront this character while enjoying the game's stunning 19th-century French aesthetic and traditional turn-based combat. Despite initial doubts about its appeal, Guillaume leveraged platforms like Reddit to recruit a creative team, including Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, who became the lead writer.
Sandfall Interactive was officially formed after securing funding from Kepler Interactive, allowing the team to grow into a dedicated unit of around 30. Many members were also discovered through unconventional means, including composer Lorien Testard via Soundcloud. Each team member took on multiple roles, showcasing their versatility and passion for the project. Despite numerous challenges, including the pandemic, Guillaume cites "massive luck" and a shared vision as key factors in their success. Now, with a game that's received significant accolades, the team reflects on their incredible journey toward creating Clair Obscur.
