The Next Clair Obscur Game Could Have Fans Feeling Blue, and Not for the Reason You Think

In a bombshell reveal that has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, developer Sandfall Interactive has confirmed that their next project in the Clair Obscur franchise will likely be a standalone title with a completely new cast of characters. This announcement, coming from director Guillaume Broche in a recent interview, has created a wave of disappointment among fans of this year’s hit RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. While a sequel is exciting news, the potential absence of the beloved main party has many players “feeling blue,” and it’s not due to the game’s famously melancholy art style.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has sold over 4.4 million copies and is a strong contender for Game of the Year, is a deeply emotional journey centered on the Dessendre family and their quest to stop the Gommage. The core of its success lies in the incredible chemistry and development of its main characters: Gustave, Maelle, Lune, Sciel, Verso, and the mythical creature Monoco. These characters, along with the game’s powerful themes of grief, trauma, and family, created a powerful connection with players. The prospect of moving on from these beloved companions is a difficult pill to swallow for many who have become attached to their story and their journey. The creative decision to pivot to a new cast for the next entry is a bold move, but one that comes with a significant risk of alienating a newly formed and passionate fanbase.

A”Final Fantasy” Approach: A Risky Move for Sandfall Interactive

The director, Guillaume Broche, has openly compared his vision for the Clair Obscur franchise to that of the Final Fantasy series. In this model, “Clair Obscur” is the franchise name, and each subsequent game will be a new, self-contained story with a fresh cast and world. While this approach has worked for decades for Square Enix, its application to a new franchise, especially one that built its reputation on the strength of its characters, is a risky strategy. Here’s why this decision is causing so much discussion:

• Loss of Connection: Players spent a significant amount of time and emotional energy getting to know and care about the characters of Expedition 33. The possibility of their story being concluded, and their world “gommaged” from existence in favor of a new one, is emotionally jarring for fans who invested in the game’s world. This is a very powerful high-CPC keyword discussion point in the gaming community.
• The Unfinished Story: While the endings of Expedition 33 provide a sense of closure, they also leave many questions unanswered, particularly regarding the greater conflict between the Painters and the Writers. The community was hopeful that a sequel would delve deeper into this lore with the characters they’ve grown to love. The prospect of a new cast exploring these themes risks making the original game feel less connected to the larger narrative.
• Creative Freedom vs. Player Expectations: The move allows Sandfall Interactive a huge amount of creative freedom to explore new genres and narrative tones. However, it completely ignores the vocal demand for more content featuring the original cast, whether through a direct sequel or DLC. While Broche has said that the studio is “cooking” something, the lack of confirmation on content for the original game leaves many fans feeling left behind.

Navigating the Future of the Clair Obscur Franchise

The creative team at Sandfall Interactive is in a precarious position. On one hand, their bold vision to create a series of standalone, high-concept RPGs is a testament to their artistic integrity. It’s a move that seeks to make each game a unique, handcrafted experience. On the other hand, it’s a direct challenge to the very thing that made Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 so successful in the first place: its deeply personal, character-driven story. The developers have also confirmed that they will not be expanding their core team, which may mean that the wait for the next title could be long. This could further dampen the enthusiasm of players who are eager for a new experience in the franchise.

The success of the next Clair Obscur game will hinge on its ability to create a new cast and narrative that are just as compelling, if not more so, than the first. For fans, it’s a test of faith in the developers they have come to respect. The question remains: can the next game capture the same magic and emotional resonance without the familiar faces of Expedition 33? The debate is a fascinating look into the modern gaming industry, where a developer’s artistic vision often clashes with the expectations of a consumer base that has become deeply invested in its characters and stories. Only time will tell if Sandfall Interactive’s next adventure will leave fans feeling “blue” in the best way possible.