'Expedition 33' Director's Boredom Spawns 2025 Game of the Year Contender

The director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 found himself bored, and went on to create 2025's top-rated video game. Discover the factors that motivated the developers to craft this experience and the story behind Sandfall Interactive's formation.

A Game Born from Boredom: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Breaking from the Norm

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is undoubtedly an instant classic. It became the highest-rated game of 2025 and sold over one million copies within three days. What’s surprising is that this game-of-the-year contender originated from a place of boredom and a yearning to create something unique.

On May 4, BBC News interviewed the developers at Sandfall Interactive about the game's origin. Director Guillaume Broche shared that the project began as a cure for his restlessness. While working at Ubisoft during the peak of the 2020 pandemic, he felt a creative urge and started developing a game idea.

Since his youth, Broche had been a fan of the famous JRPG series Final Fantasy and aspired to build a game in a similar vein. This ambition set him on a journey that started with a simple post on Reddit.

A Fortunate Turn of Events

To bring his vision to life, Broche began sending messages on Reddit and various online forums to assemble a team. At the time, his concept—a turn-based game inspired by the Belle Époque era—wasn't a mainstream trend. Nevertheless, Broche persisted in his search for collaborators passionate about the project.

Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, then in lockdown in Australia, was one of the people who responded. She saw Broche's Reddit post seeking voice actors and decided to give it a shot. "I thought, 'I've never done that before, but it sounds pretty cool,' so I sent him an audition," Svedberg-Yen recalled. Initially cast for a major character, she eventually became the lead writer for Expedition 33.

Broche later left Ubisoft to dedicate himself fully to Expedition 33, founding Sandfall Interactive. After securing funding from publisher Kepler Interactive, the core team expanded to around 30 members. Many were found through unconventional channels, such as composer Lorien Testard, who connected with the team via Soundcloud.

Thanks to Kepler Interactive's backing, the studio engaged well-known actors including Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI), Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate 3), and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings).

Despite the team's growth, Broche and Svedberg-Yen mentioned they "wore many different hats" throughout development. Core team members often worked beyond their official roles; for instance, Svedberg-Yen also managed translations into multiple languages. Broche noted, "We have an amazing team, mostly of junior people, but they are incredibly invested in the project and remarkably talented."

The origin story of Expedition 33 feels almost as enchanting as the game itself. Fueled by boredom and a dash of luck, Sandfall Interactive created a generational title destined to be enjoyed for years. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest updates, check out our article below.