As we count down to the 2025 Game Awards on December 11, where Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is nominated in a record-breaking 12 categories, the Sandfall Interactive title has already racked up numerous accolades at other prestigious events, including two Game of the Year awards at the Thailand Game Awards and the Golden Joystick Awards. Alongside its massive critical acclaim, here’s another milestone that underscores just how deeply it has connected with players.
A New Monumental Record for Clair Obscur Expedition 33
Released on April 24, 2025, Clair Obscur Expedition 33 made an immediate and massive impact in a year already filled with standout games. Internationally, the title from the French studio quickly gained traction, particularly in Japan, thanks to its clear influences from J-RPG heavyweights like Final Fantasy and Persona. The game rapidly became both a critical and commercial triumph. A key factor in this success was its simultaneous launch across PC, PS5, Xbox Series, and Game Pass. Recently, Microsoft revealed another remarkable achievement for Sandfall Interactive’s title: it now holds the record for the best launch of 2025 for a third-party game on their subscription service.
According to a blog post on Xbox Wire, the game had the highest number of unique players on Game Pass in the 30 days following its release for any third-party title. This was even more impressive given that Oblivion Remastered launched just two days earlier, seemingly attempting to overshadow Clair Obscur Expedition 33.
In the Xbox Wire article, Guillaume Broche, creative director of Clair Obscur Expedition 33, commented on his game’s new record performance: “This year has been so far beyond what any of us could have imagined, and it’s down to how passionate and supportive our fans have been to make that a reality. It’s really nerve-wracking to be a new studio releasing our first game, but the support of everyone has really made everything feel like a dream.”
Source: Xbox Wire
