Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 receives praise from CD Projekt Red

The repercussion of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an RPG by the newcomer Sandfall Interactive, gained a new chapter after the title received public praise from members of CD Projekt Red, the studio responsible for franchises like The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077. The reaction came a few days after the gameplay trailer was shown at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, which took place on June 9.

Marcin Momot, Global Community Director of CD Projekt Red, posted on X/Twitter that the game represents a necessary direction for the RPG genre.

“We need more games like this. Incredible art style, combat that seems to be fun, and breathtaking setting,” he stated.

The spotlight on the French title goes beyond social media. Specialized sites like GamesRadar+ and IGN pointed out the project as one of the big surprises of the event, alongside announcements like Doom: The Dark Ages and the new expansion of Starfield.

Developed in Unreal Engine 5, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG set in the France of the Belle Époque, mixing elements of dark fantasy and art nouveau architecture. The gameplay features a dynamic combat system with real-time action commands within turn-based battles, similar to what was seen in Sea of Stars and Paper Mario.

The plot revolves around a cycle of destruction caused by an entity named Paintress, who every year erases the existence of a number of people based on the countdown that gives the game its name. The mission of the protagonists will be to break this repetition before humanity reaches zero.

The team at Sandfall Interactive is composed of veterans from Ubisoft, with names that have already worked on titles like Assassin’s Creed, Ghost Recon, and Immortals Fenyx Rising. The studio is based in Montpellier, France.

Set to be released in 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will arrive on the Xbox Series X|S, PC, and will be available on Game Pass at launch. So far, there is no confirmation of versions for PlayStation 5.