Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has crossed two million copies sold

Congrats Sandfall Interactive.

A small studio and it was their first game. Always amazes me in gaming how small studios can churn out great stuff, while the big boys are overbudgeted and release junk. It shouldnt be this way. You'd think the small studio would be saddled with bad budgets, a fraction of people working there, crappy dev tools, and they surely dont have things like EA's motion capture building. Add it up and it should be junk. Nope.

Going by wiki, it says the studio was made from former UBI guys and main guy's idea started in 2020 to get funding and an employee pool. So by the time the game went into full blown dev, who knows when. It doesn't say. But for sake of argument, maybe it really got on the ball in 2021(?). If so, that's still peak covid time and they still got out a quality game by early 2025 which seems like a reasonable time line given the game and studio had to be made from the ground up during covid.

Good job Sandfall.
 
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Can we stop with these hot takes like Square still doesn't release dope turn based games that have outsold this, still. Square is more than mainline Final Fantasy.

I really, really don't think that they do anymore. It saddens me to say it as I used to be the biggest Squaresoft and Enix fan back in the day. They used to release banger after banger in the 90's and I would buy them all. After the merger, the games don't have the same magic like they used to.

I remember playing Octopath 2 last year after some recommendations here boasting about the "amazing writing".... There's honestly nothing special there. Just an easy, simple and predictable game with characters who STILL don't interact with each other after so many people complained about that in the first game. Besides that, I think one of the biggest complaints is that their games still feel too catered towards a younger audience of teens (13-18), very anime (some prefer that I know) in visuals and writing, and can also be pretty casual, hand-holdy and easy. I think why Expedition 33 is getting so much love is because it COMPLETELY goes against that norm.
 
Game is still sold out in New Zealand, EB Games have literally opened up preorders for it again for May 23rd. I can't remember the last time this happened with a game. Might see another sales spike towards the end of the month if physical restocks are similar in other countries.
 
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Anyone notice how people keep saying this but when you have things like this they are completely silent:


Copies sold, player numbers etc are marketing.
Depending on what you are marketing the choice will change. If you are a 3rd party who already got their subscription money then you will go with sold because you are marketing that the game is for sale. If you have a subscription service you will go with 'players' as it is the bigger number and you want to push people to your subscription service.


4 million players in 3 days....that's actually very good..... compare to something like '3 million players in a week' which is very bad
 
4 million players in 3 days....that's actually very good..... compare to something like '3 million players in a week' which is very bad
Firstly - what? How is one of those very good and one very bad?
Secondly - that wasn't what you said - you said that they use 'players' when it is selling bad but Oblivion Remaster is selling well but they still used 'players'.
 
Love it! Reminds me of Balatro and Divinity Original Sin: this is type of runaway success stories the game industry needs more of!
 
Should go for 3,333,33 copies
4 million players in 3 days....that's actually very good..... compare to something like '3 million players in a week' which is very bad
Not only that but more importantly Oblivion Remaster also sold 1.4 million copies on Steam and 590K copies on the PS5.

So they got both actual copies sold and gamepass player numbers and not just posting player numbers.

Same for E33 which posted both gamepass players and actual copies sold.
 
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Should go for 3,333,33 copies

Not only that but more importantly Oblivion Remaster also sold 1.4 million copies on Steam and 590K copies on the PS5.

So they got both actual copies sold and gamepass player numbers and not just posting player numbers.

Same for E33 which posted both gamepass players and actual copies sold.
Where are you getting those oblivion sales figures?
 
Where are you getting those oblivion sales figures?

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I'm just kidding. I don't know nor care shit about sales numbers lol
 
4 million players in 3 days....that's actually very good..... compare to something like '3 million players in a week' which is very bad
To be fair, it would've been embarrassing if an Elder Scrolls game did any less. In fact, I still think it might be below what Bethesda and Microsoft expected.
 
I really, really don't think that they do anymore. It saddens me to say it as I used to be the biggest Squaresoft and Enix fan back in the day. They used to release banger after banger in the 90's and I would buy them all. After the merger, the games don't have the same magic like they used to.

I remember playing Octopath 2 last year after some recommendations here boasting about the "amazing writing".... There's honestly nothing special there. Just an easy, simple and predictable game with characters who STILL don't interact with each other after so many people complained about that in the first game. Besides that, I think one of the biggest complaints is that their games still feel too catered towards a younger audience of teens (13-18), very anime (some prefer that I know) in visuals and writing, and can also be pretty casual, hand-holdy and easy. I think why Expedition 33 is getting so much love is because it COMPLETELY goes against that norm.
I'd argue that Expedition 33 is melodramatic at a surface and immature level. And to talk about predictability, Expedition 33 has the most predictable and boring twist I've seen in a long time. I just find it extremely funny that people need to try to shit all over octopath, bravely default, and dragon quest just to prop up the new zeitgeist "jrpg" that is only a jrpg on the surface level and it's more like uncharted with turn based combat.

People can think Expedition 33 is a fantastic game in its own right, but it isn't some gift from a jrpg god and people acting like it turns the genre on its head probably don't play more than mainline final fantasy and think those games are the pinnacle of what JRPGs are today.
 
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I really, really don't think that they do anymore. It saddens me to say it as I used to be the biggest Squaresoft and Enix fan back in the day. They used to release banger after banger in the 90's and I would buy them all. After the merger, the games don't have the same magic like they used to.

I remember playing Octopath 2 last year after some recommendations here boasting about the "amazing writing".... There's honestly nothing special there. Just an easy, simple and predictable game with characters who STILL don't interact with each other after so many people complained about that in the first game. Besides that, I think one of the biggest complaints is that their games still feel too catered towards a younger audience of teens (13-18), very anime (some prefer that I know) in visuals and writing, and can also be pretty casual, hand-holdy and easy. I think why Expedition 33 is getting so much love is because it COMPLETELY goes against that norm.
Square has spent the last quarter century doing everything it can to ruin the reputation it built on the SNES and PS1.
 
Probably mere pocket change since they didn't expect it to sell much. Probably one or two million dollars is my guess.

I seriously doubt the number is that low. Leaked documents from the Microsoft/Activision acquisition indicated Microsoft was willing to pay up to $50 million per month for certain games to be on Game Pass, granted, those were major AAA titles like Grand Theft Auto. While Expedition 33 doesn't come close to that level, there are rumors that Game Pass payouts are also influenced by demand metrics like playtime and sales across platforms. Think about it, this is an industry that generates more revenue than the global film and music industries combined. So if I had to speculate, I'd say there's a lot more than just pocket change involved.
 
I'd argue that Expedition 33 is melodramatic at a surface and immature level. And to talk about predictability, Expedition 33 has the most predictable and boring twist I've seen in a long time. I just find it extremely funny that people need to try to shit all over octopath, bravely default, and dragon quest just to prop up the new zeitgeist "jrpg" that is only a jrpg on the surface level and it's more like uncharted with turn based combat.

People can think Expedition 33 is a fantastic game in its own right, but it isn't some gift from a jrpg god and people acting like it turns the genre on its head probably don't play more than mainline final fantasy and think those games are the pinnacle of what JRPGs are today.


A Nintendo fanboy giving lessons on narrative is quite something.

33 is very well paced and written, only a rabid fanboy who feels triggered by its sucess would say stuff like this. Well, no surprises. Pikmins always deliver.
 
A Nintendo fanboy giving lessons on narrative is quite something.

33 is very well paced and written, only a rabid fanboy who feels triggered by its sucess would say stuff like this. Well, no surprises. Pikmins always deliver.
Why would a fanboy be triggered that a game is selling 2 million copies?

The only thing I'm triggered about is how people feel the need to dismiss the large amount of great turn based JRPGs (none of which are Nintendo games so you calling out my Nintendo fandom is weird?) just so they can pretend Expedition 33 exists in a league of its own, which it doesn't.
 
Why would a fanboy be triggered that a game is selling 2 million copies?

The only thing I'm triggered about is how people feel the need to dismiss the large amount of great turn based JRPGs (none of which are Nintendo games so you calling out my Nintendo fandom is weird?) just so they can pretend Expedition 33 exists in a league of its own, which it doesn't.

It's the classic insult-as-argument approach. This was always a sign of a rock-solid case. :pie_wfwt:
 
It's the classic insult-as-argument approach. This was always a sign of a rock-solid case. :pie_wfwt:

It's the classic "see a pattern" approach. And yes, there's a pattern of fans of a certain brand attacking this game because of reasons that go beyond my comprehension.

Why would a fanboy be triggered that a game is selling 2 million copies?

The only thing I'm triggered about is how people feel the need to dismiss the large amount of great turn based JRPGs (none of which are Nintendo games so you calling out my Nintendo fandom is weird?) just so they can pretend Expedition 33 exists in a league of its own, which it doesn't.


As a western RPG, its a rara avis. People aren't dismissing those games. If anything, they are saying that big shots like Square don't make them anymore, or not to the same extent of these guys.
 
Anyone notice how people keep saying this but when you have things like this they are completely silent:


Copies sold, player numbers etc are marketing.
Depending on what you are marketing the choice will change. If you are a 3rd party who already got their subscription money then you will go with sold because you are marketing that the game is for sale. If you have a subscription service you will go with 'players' as it is the bigger number and you want to push people to your subscription service.

Well for one Oblivion is a remake of what is considered one of the best AAA RPGs of all time and despite not being developed internally it's still a game by a big developer/publisher that had a huge amount of fanfare even prior to it's announcement.

While Clair Obscur is a AA game made by a studio of 30 people that have never made a game together as a studio.

Not to mention that AAA remake with huge fanfare/hype shadow dropped 2 days prior to the AA game made by a small studio released.
 
It's the classic "see a pattern" approach. And yes, there's a pattern of fans of a certain brand attacking this game because of reasons that go beyond my comprehension.




As a western RPG, its a rara avis. People aren't dismissing those games. If anything, they are saying that big shots like Square don't make them anymore, or not to the same extent of these guys.
But they literally still do make these; and their size, scope, and overall mechanical complexity surpass Expedition 33s, which too me is a paper thin JRPG comparatively.

Is it just "omg AAA graphics JRPGS ARE BACK eat your heart out Square!!" ?

Complex turned based JRPGs never went anywhere. They've always been here.
 
One of my favorite games of all-time.

They managed to keep everything good about turn-based combat, while simultaneously adding the constant feeling of needing to stay 100% focused on every moment, similar to a Souls game.
 
I'd argue that Expedition 33 is melodramatic at a surface and immature level. And to talk about predictability, Expedition 33 has the most predictable and boring twist I've seen in a long time. I just find it extremely funny that people need to try to shit all over octopath, bravely default, and dragon quest just to prop up the new zeitgeist "jrpg" that is only a jrpg on the surface level and it's more like uncharted with turn based combat.

People can think Expedition 33 is a fantastic game in its own right, but it isn't some gift from a jrpg god and people acting like it turns the genre on its head probably don't play more than mainline final fantasy and think those games are the pinnacle of what JRPGs are today.

That's the craziest take I've ever seen here on these forums, but to each their own.
 
I'd argue that Expedition 33 is melodramatic at a surface and immature level. And to talk about predictability, Expedition 33 has the most predictable and boring twist I've seen in a long time. I just find it extremely funny that people need to try to shit all over octopath, bravely default, and dragon quest just to prop up the new zeitgeist "jrpg" that is only a jrpg on the surface level and it's more like uncharted with turn based combat.

People can think Expedition 33 is a fantastic game in its own right, but it isn't some gift from a jrpg god and people acting like it turns the genre on its head probably don't play more than mainline final fantasy and think those games are the pinnacle of what JRPGs are today.
It's fine to think Expedition 33's story is melodramatic, but what the fuck are you even comparing it to? What JRPGs of the last ~20 years, setting aside Nier, have narratives of comparable quality? Certainly not Octopath, Bravely Default, or DQXI (some of the older DQs, sure, but DQVIII released in 2004).
 
Some people will always take the position of trying to tear down anything successful.
My original post is in regards to people feeling the need to tear down Square JRPGs to make this one seem like it's in a league of its own, which it isn't. Am I laying it on a little thick? Sure. But it's also equally ridiculous to insinuate this game is the saving grace and pinnacle of the JRPG genre.

It's fine to think Expedition 33's story is melodramatic, but what the fuck are you even comparing it to? What JRPGs of the last ~20 years, setting aside Nier, have narratives of comparable quality? Certainly not Octopath, Bravely Default, or DQXI (some of the older DQs, sure, but DQVIII released in 2004).
Xenoblade 3 literally did the "you're all going to die at a young age because some being dictates it to be so" central story plot three years ago and they actually took the time needed to develop it correctly on an emotional level. I suggest playing it if you haven't.
 
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Xenoblade 3 literally did the "you're all going to die at a young age because some being dictates it to be so" central story plot three years ago and they actually took the time needed to develop it correctly on an emotional level. I suggest playing it if you haven't.
You're comparing this to XENOBLADE 3?????
 
Well for one Oblivion is a remake of what is considered one of the best AAA RPGs of all time and despite not being developed internally it's still a game by a big developer/publisher that had a huge amount of fanfare even prior to it's announcement.

While Clair Obscur is a AA game made by a studio of 30 people that have never made a game together as a studio.

Not to mention that AAA remake with huge fanfare/hype shadow dropped 2 days prior to the AA game made by a small studio released.
I'm not comparing the reception, Clair Obscur has done amazing - I'm just refuting that we get tweets about 'player' numbers for games that sell poorly and 'sold' for games selling well.
 
They should be the true Frechly Fantasy by releasing a statement saying...

"Dans le sous-segment des jeux HD, nous avons sorti un titre, Claire Obscure : Expedition 33, mais les bénéfices n'ont malheureusement pas été à la hauteur de nos attentes"
 
My original post is in regards to people feeling the need to tear down Square JRPGs to make this one seem like it's in a league of its own, which it isn't. Am I laying it on a little thick? Sure. But it's also equally ridiculous to insinuate this game is the saving grace and pinnacle of the JRPG genre.
No it's not. Games like this and Like a Dragon are pinnacles of modern turn-based JRPGs
 
Interesting hypothetical, what if they game was release as FF XVI, what would be the reaction and the sales be? We know that's not possible because the passion project nature of this game makes it impossible to be made at a large corporation environment. But let's ignore that and pretend it was release by SE as FF XVI.
 
Interesting hypothetical, what if they game was release as FF XVI, what would be the reaction and the sales be? We know that's not possible because the passion project nature of this game makes it impossible to be made at a large corporation environment. But let's ignore that and pretend it was release by SE as FF XVI.
They'd seem low. But, if it was FFXVI, the sales would have been higher. There's a reason why IP rights can be worth billions. Games can sell on name alone.
 
My original post is in regards to people feeling the need to tear down Square JRPGs to make this one seem like it's in a league of its own, which it isn't. Am I laying it on a little thick? Sure. But it's also equally ridiculous to insinuate this game is the saving grace and pinnacle of the JRPG genre.


Xenoblade 3 literally did the "you're all going to die at a young age because some being dictates it to be so" central story plot three years ago and they actually took the time needed to develop it correctly on an emotional level. I suggest playing it if you haven't.

You're just shooting yourself on the foot with these comments. We're criticizing these Square Enix games because many of us paid money, spent time and have been disappointed time and time and time again with mediocre experiences. To say Expedition 33 is melodramatic and predictable while praising Octopath is the craziest take I've ever seen here and it's clear you have a bone to pick with this game.

You originally said that people who are looking at Expedition 33 probably never went past mainline FF games...not true. I guarantee I've played more JRPGs than you and most people here. Expedition 33 deserves the praise because it is something that is missing that we see so much in the genre. It's missing the mediocrity, anime tropes, EXCESSIVE hand holding, retarded characters who mostly act like they're 13 years old, extremely "cringe" writing and dialogue of modern day JRPGs.

You can also throw in other things it's missing too, but there's no point since something tells me you're going to say it has all of that anyway. So yeah, pointless...

But to each their own. I really hope we start seeing more companies (especially Square) who seem less and less passionate about their projects take more inspiration from these actual gamers who go into development with the mentality and goal to make something they'd love to play as well.
 
I'm loving both. Not sure why FF can't do both considering how many spin off type things they do.
They can. They choose not to. If they had passion alongside budget Bravely Default could be a bigger series.

And I'd love it if they treated Tri-Ace and Valkyrie Profile with the respect it deserves.
 
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