"2025 Game of the Year Contender Born from Boredom at Ubisoft"

Discover the fascinating story behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the 2025 Game of the Year contender that emerged from a spark of boredom and a director's dream. Dive into how Sandfall Interactive came to be and the unique journey of crafting this acclaimed title.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Born Out of Boredom

Pursuing a Unique Vision

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly risen to fame, clinching the title of the highest-rated game of 2025 and selling over a million copies within just three days. This blockbuster hit, now a favorite for Game of the Year, was surprisingly born from director Guillaume Broche's quest to alleviate his boredom.

During an interview with BBC News on May 4, Broche shared that the game's inception occurred during the peak of the 2020 pandemic while working at Ubisoft. Feeling restless, he turned his childhood love for the Final Fantasy series into a new project. His journey began on Reddit, where he sought to bring his vision to life.

A Serendipitous Start

To realize his dream, Broche reached out on Reddit and various online forums, sharing his vision of a Belle Époque-inspired classic turn-based gameplay. Though initially met with lukewarm responses, he persevered and eventually connected with Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, who was in lockdown in Australia. Responding to a Reddit post seeking voice actors, Svedberg-Yen auditioned and was initially cast for a major character role. Her involvement evolved, leading her to become the lead writer for Expedition 33.

Broche left Ubisoft to focus entirely on Expedition 33, founding Sandfall Interactive. With funding from Kepler Interactive, the team expanded to about 30 members, many of whom were found through unconventional means. Composer Lorien Testard, for instance, joined after connecting via Soundcloud. The support from Kepler Interactive also allowed them to collaborate with renowned actors like Charlie Cox, Ben Starr, Jennifer English, and Andy Serkis.

Despite the growing team, Broche and Svedberg-Yen juggled multiple roles throughout the game's development. Svedberg-Yen, for example, also handled translations into various languages. Broche praised the team, noting, "We have, I think, an amazing team mostly of junior people but they are so incredibly invested in the project and talented."

The enchanting origins of Expedition 33 mirror the magic within the game itself. Driven by boredom and fueled by serendipity, Sandfall Interactive has created a generational masterpiece that promises to captivate players for years to come. 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!