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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn't just a top GOTY candidate, it’s also a massive financial hit. Studio the development team along with publisher Kepler Interactive disclosed that the game exceeded five million copies sold, this is in spite of its status as a day-one release through the Game Pass service.

The game's performance came as quite a shock for the team. I was convinced that we'd create an enjoyable experience that would meet moderate sales results,” a key executive stated.

Another leading developer noted the game's review aggregate, rated 93 by critics, came as perhaps the most surprising moment to the studio relative to what we anticipated and the actual outcome turned out to be. When the score released all staff members was screaming and jumping. It was really frantic.”

The positive reception has led to work on a free update for players with a new environment, foes, plus epic encounters, as announced would be out sometime soon.

Nevertheless, despite the game's evolution, it's unlikely the team will expand. We've built a talented crew with a strong creative director with a clear direction for this game and also for new ideas. We intend to preserve the small-team dynamic that worked for this game then develop large projects one by one,” the executive added.

Their team size drummed up plenty of debate following launch. A few well-known creators, like Hideo Kojima, viewed the development group as the “ideal” for a studio. Although the team is and was indeed a small team next to major studios, checking Expedition 33’s credits reveals numerous contributors worked on it; Sandfall contracted a Korean team handling movement and effects, to illustrate.

“We plan to recruit slightly more for sure if we have an increase in development in the coming years,” the producer said. “Yet I picture more of a workshop comprising a handful really talented people that can make artistic collaborations.” He noted that the studio's philosophy as a company “focuses on preserving the strengths that made this achievement possible in the first place.”

While it may be not the right time to disclose concrete plans regarding upcoming titles — believe me, efforts were made — the team does know their fundamental principles. “The turn-based aspect, is integral to our identity of what we built,” a developer explained. “The timing isn't right to be able to tell our next interests, but it's important also to remain faithful to the DNA of studio with [a] strong narrative universe and engaging mechanics that excites us.”

The lead programmer noted how this game originated from the visionary “work[ing] on his dream game. We aspire that's something will be repeated with upcoming games.”