The director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 created the highest-rated game of 2025 out of sheer boredom. Discover what motivated the developers behind this project and learn how Sandfall Interactive came to be.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Born from Boredom
Breaking from the Ordinary
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 instantly became a hit, earning the title of 2025's highest-rated game and selling over a million copies within three days. Surprisingly, this game-of-the-year contender emerged from a place of boredom and a drive to do something fresh.
In a May 4 interview with BBC News, the developers at Sandfall Interactive shared the game’s origin story. Director Guillaume Broche explained that the project was his antidote to creative restlessness. While working at Ubisoft in 2020 amid the pandemic, he felt a growing desire to bring his own game concept to life.
Broche had been a lifelong fan of the Final Fantasy series and dreamed of crafting a similar type of experience. That dream took its first step forward when he turned to Reddit to find others who wanted to join him.
A Twist of Fate
Broche began reaching out randomly on Reddit and other forums to assemble his team. At the time, his vision—a classic turn-based game with Belle Époque influences—wasn't exactly a mainstream concept. Nonetheless, he persisted in searching for collaborators for his passion project.
Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, then in lockdown in Australia, answered one of his posts. She saw Broche’s call for voice actors on Reddit and decided to give it a shot. "I thought, 'I've never done that before, but it sounds cool,' so I sent him an audition," Svedberg-Yen recalled. She was initially cast for a major role but eventually became the lead writer for Expedition 33.
Broche later left Ubisoft to dedicate himself entirely to Expedition 33 and founded Sandfall Interactive. After securing funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the team grew to around 30 people. Many members, like composer Lorien Testard, joined through unconventional channels—Testard connected with the team via Soundcloud.
With Kepler Interactive's backing, Sandfall was able to attract well-known actors such as Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI), Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate 3), and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings).
Despite the expanding team, Broche and Svedberg-Yen admitted they had to "wear many different hats" during development. Many core members worked beyond their official roles; Svedberg-Yen, for example, also managed translations into multiple languages. Broche described the team as "mostly junior members, but incredibly dedicated and talented."
The making of Expedition 33 turned out to be almost as magical as the game itself. With boredom as their spark and a bit of luck along the way, Sandfall Interactive crafted a generational title that players will enjoy for years. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest updates, check out our article below!
