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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn't just a strong Game of the Year candidate, but also a huge commercial success. Developer the development team and publisher Kepler Interactive revealed that the game topped five million copies sold, and that’s even with it being a launch-day addition through the Game Pass service.

This achievement came as a surprise for the team. I was convinced that we would have a good game that would meet moderate commercial success,” a senior team member commented.

Another leading developer remarked the game's review aggregate, rated 93 by critics, was the most surprising moment to the studio versus our early predictions and the actual outcome of the field was. When the score released all staff members was screaming and jumping. The energy was electric.”

This triumph has led to Sandfall developing a complimentary expansion for the game including novel settings, foes, and boss fights, which they said is coming within the “upcoming month[s]”.

Nevertheless, while the game is growing, don’t expect the team will expand. “We have a great team under clear creative leadership who has a great vision for our work plus upcoming innovations. Our goal is to maintain the close-knit size that worked for this game and do maybe one big game after another,” the producer said.

The studio's scale generated significant conversation following launch. Some developers, such as the famed director, looked at the development group as the model for game development. Despite being relatively lean compared to its AAA counterparts, checking the game's credits indicates many individuals were involved; Sandfall contracted a Korean team to work on gameplay animations, as an instance.

“We plan to recruit a bit more for sure if we have next an upcoming production peak in the coming years,” the executive stated. “Yet I picture essentially a craft studio with a small number of exceptionally gifted creators that create artistic collaborations.” They emphasized that their core belief as developers “is more to maintain the strengths that made this achievement possible originally.”

Although it's not the right time to reveal exact details regarding upcoming titles — rest assured, I attempted to learn more — the developers understand what’s at its core. “Strategic combat, I think it's in the DNA of what we built,” the lead programmer said. “The timing isn't right to specify future passions, however, it's crucial to stay true to the DNA of studio with [a] strong narrative universe plus innovative play that excites us.”

They noted how this game began with their director developing his passion title. It is hoped this approach will be repeated as well for future productions.”