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The game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn't just an impressive GOTY candidate, it’s also a huge commercial success. Developer Sandfall Interactive along with publisher their publishing partner revealed that this title topped 5 million units sold, this is despite its status as a launch-day addition on Xbox Game Pass.

This achievement came as quite an unexpected turn to Sandfall. I was convinced that we'd create a good game achieving moderate market performance,” the COO and producer stated.

The CTO and lead programmer noted the game's critical score, which currently sits at 93, came as the greatest surprise” to the team relative to “our initial expectations and the actual outcome of the field was. Because when it dropped all staff members celebrated excitedly. It felt absolutely wild.”

This triumph resulted in Sandfall developing a free update for the game featuring fresh areas, foes, along with challenging bosses, reportedly would be out within the “upcoming month[s]”.

Nevertheless, while the game is growing, it's unlikely the team will expand. Our team includes a talented crew under clear creative leadership with a clear direction for our work plus upcoming innovations. Our goal is to maintain the human scale that worked for this game then develop major titles sequentially,” the executive said.

Their team size generated plenty of debate when the game came out. Certain industry figures, such as the famed director, viewed this studio as the model for a studio. Although the team is and was indeed a small team next to major studios, a quick look at the game's credits reveals numerous contributors were involved; the French studio partnered with overseas animators handling movement and effects, as an instance.

“Some hiring will occur slightly more for sure should there be an increase in development in upcoming years,” the producer stated. “However, I envision rather a creative atelier comprising a handful highly skilled individuals that create collective masterpieces.” He noted that Sandfall’s vision as a studio “is more to maintain the successful elements that enabled this success in the first place.”

Although it's too early for Sandfall to disclose concrete plans regarding upcoming titles — believe me, efforts were made — they are certain their essential identity. “Strategic combat, is integral to our identity of what we built,” a developer said. “It's a bit too early to be able to tell our next interests, yet we must to adhere to our studio's essence featuring rich storytelling and engaging mechanics that excites us.”

The developer mentioned that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 started with the creative director “work[ing] on his dream game. We aspire this approach we will be able to do with upcoming games.”