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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not only a top GOTY contender, but also a massive commercial success. Studio Sandfall Interactive along with publisher Kepler Interactive announced that this title topped 5 million units in sales, this is despite it being a day-one release through the Game Pass service.

Its success came as a surprise for the team. “I was strongly believing that we'd create a good game that would meet reasonable sales results,” a senior team member explained.

A technical director remarked this title's critical score, which currently sits at 93, was “maybe the biggest shock to the team compared to our early predictions and the final result proved to be. Because when it dropped the entire team were cheering loudly. The energy was electric.”

That success has led to work on a free update for players featuring fresh areas, foes, along with challenging bosses, reportedly will release within the “upcoming month[s]”.

Nevertheless, while the game is growing, it's unlikely they'll hire extensively. “We have a talented crew guided by a visionary director with a clear direction for this game plus upcoming innovations. Our goal is to maintain the close-knit size that made this possible and perhaps create large projects one by one,” they said.

The size of Sandfall sparked significant conversation following launch. A few well-known creators, such as the famed director, considered Sandfall’s team as the model for a studio. Although the team is and was indeed a small team next to major studios, checking the game's credits shows that many individuals worked on it; the French studio partnered with overseas animators handling movement and effects, to illustrate.

“We will hire a little more for sure if we have next an upcoming production peak down the line,” they stated. “Yet I picture more of a workshop with a small number of exceptionally gifted creators capable of producing collective masterpieces.” They emphasized that Sandfall’s vision as a company “focuses on preserving the key advantages that made this achievement possible in the first place.”

Although it's not the right time to reveal exact details about future projects — rest assured, efforts were made — they are certain what’s at its core. “The turn-based aspect, I think it's in the DNA of our creations,” the lead programmer said. “The timing isn't right to announce what will interest us, yet we must to stay true to our studio's essence through compelling worlds plus innovative play that inspires the team.”

The lead programmer added how this game began with their director pursuing his ideal project. We aspire that's something will be repeated with upcoming games.”