Clair Obscur’s Creators Won’t Repeat Themselves: Next Game May Break from Art, Story, and Genre

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was a breakout hit, with over 5 million copies sold. But its creators at Sandfall Interactive are already making it clear: don’t expect their next game to copy the magic formula, or even the genre.

Speaking with the Washington Post, creative director Guillaume Broche shared that the team’s future plans are far from set in stone. There are no promises about maintaining the same art style, story vibe, or even the category of game. “We don’t want to be constrained by story, art style or gameplay in whatever we want to make next, so nothing to say,” Broche said. “We just want it to feel authentic and made with love.”

In a world where most hit studios double down on what works, Sandfall is refusing to play it safe.

What Comes Next for Sandfall Interactive?

After a massive success, most studios feel pressure to stick with what players already know and love. But the heads at Sandfall have something different in mind. The unique parry mechanic, letting players stay engaged during enemy turns, helped set Clair Obscur apart, taking notes from games like Devil May Cry and the Mario & Luigi RPG series.

Fans might wonder if sequels or new projects will lean even further into action or shake up the formula altogether. But Broche is purposely noncommittal. “Nothing’s ready to be confirmed yet,” he emphasises. The clear takeaway? No element is guaranteed to survive unchanged into Sandfall’s next release.

Broche’s focus is on genuine creativity, not ticking boxes. When asked whether mechanics like the parry system were designed to court players who avoid turn-based RPGs, he shot that theory down. Speaking earlier to Automaton, he explained, “It’s not like we added the parry system and built such a narrative experience because we wanted to avoid our game facing prejudice. We just did it because we wanted to do it.”

Big ‘Thank You’ Update for Clair Obscur on the Way

While mystery surrounds the studio’s next full project, Sandfall is still very much in touch with its community. A major update for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is now in the works for all platforms. Forget calling it a DLC, this will be a “thank you” update, designed to show appreciation for fans who made the game a hit.

According to Broche, it “isn’t exactly a full-blown downloadable content expansion thing, but it’s what we call a ‘thank you’ update. We have received so much love from our community and players, we just want to thank you for joining us.”

So what’s actually coming in this content drop? Players can look forward to a completely new environment, bringing fresh enemy encounters and unexplored surprises. There’ll also be new late-stage bosses, new costumes, and a handful of extra secrets that fans haven’t seen teased yet. The update is still under development, and there’s no release date yet, but it’s promised for every supported platform.

This is all about giving back, not cashing in, an increasingly rare move in the modern games industry.

With fan expectations at an all-time high and the pressure mounting, Sandfall Interactive is writing its own rulebook. Wherever they go next, one thing’s certain: they won’t be boxed in by the past.