"2025 GotY Contender Born from Ubisoft Director's Boredom"

Discover how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's director transformed his boredom into a groundbreaking game, catapulting it to the top as the highest-rated title of 2025. Dive into the story of Sandfall Interactive's inception and the creative journey behind this instant classic.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Born from Boredom

Embracing Innovation

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has swiftly become an iconic game, earning the title of the highest-rated game of 2025 and selling over 1 million copies in just three days. What's fascinating is that this game-of-the-year contender was born out of sheer boredom and a yearning for something new.

In an insightful interview with BBC News on May 4, Sandfall Interactive's developers shared the origins of the game. Director Guillaume Broche disclosed that the project was his antidote to restlessness. While working at Ubisoft during the peak of the 2020 pandemic, Broche felt an urge to explore new horizons. Inspired by his childhood favorite, the JRPG series Final Fantasy, he set out on a mission to create a similar yet distinct game. His journey began on Reddit.

A Serendipitous Team Formation

To bring his vision to life, Broche reached out through Reddit and online forums, seeking collaborators for his Belle Époque-inspired, turn-based gameplay concept. Despite initial lukewarm responses, his determination remained unshaken.

During the lockdown in Australia, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen stumbled upon Broche's call for voice actors on Reddit. Intrigued, she auditioned and initially secured a role as a major character. Her involvement soon expanded to becoming the lead writer for Expedition 33. "I was like: 'I've never done that, it sounds kinda cool', so I sent him an audition," Svedberg-Yen recounted.

Broche eventually left Ubisoft to devote himself entirely to Expedition 33, founding Sandfall Interactive. With funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the team grew to about 30 members, many of whom were found through unconventional means. Composer Lorien Testard, for instance, connected with the team via Soundcloud.

With Kepler's backing, Sandfall Interactive was able to engage 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), enhancing the game's allure.

Despite the expanding team, Broche and Svedberg-Yen highlighted their multifaceted roles in the game's development. "We wore many different hats," they noted. Svedberg-Yen, for example, also handled translations across multiple languages. Broche praised the team, saying, "We have, I think, an amazing team mostly of junior people but they are so incredibly invested in the project and talented."

The origins of Expedition 33 are as enchanting as the game itself. Fueled by boredom and serendipity, Sandfall Interactive crafted a timeless masterpiece destined to be cherished for years. 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!