Final Fantasy’s Hironobu Sakaguchi praises Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 after its director credits him as a key inspiration for his game development journey.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 just had an unforgettable night at The Game Awards 2025, taking home an impressive nine trophies. During his acceptance speech for Game of the Year, director Guillaume Broche took a moment to express gratitude to those who inspired him to pursue game development, particularly highlighting the impact of tutorial creators on platforms like YouTube.

“I want to extend a thank you to the unsung heroes of this industry: the people who make tutorials on how to create a game, because we had no idea how to make a game before,” Broche shared. He also gave a heartfelt shout-out to Hironobu Sakaguchi, the legendary figure behind the early Final Fantasy titles, who played a significant role in shaping his passion for gaming.

Sakaguchi, known for his work on the first five Final Fantasy games and later titles up to Final Fantasy 9, has continued to impress with cult classics like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and Fantasian after leaving Square Enix.

Just last month, Broche expressed his admiration for Lost Odyssey on the Xbox 360, noting its influence on Clair Obscur. Developer Sandfall Interactive has been transparent about how previous JRPGs have shaped their game, making Broche’s acknowledgment of Sakaguchi’s contributions all the more fitting.

Sakaguchi responded to the recognition with a supportive message on social media: “I applaud your outstanding game creation.”

“What a strange timeline for us,” Broche remarked in another part of his speech. “I have no idea what’s happening. I want to thank the incredible team at Sandfall Interactive. They are not watching from home as we brought literally everyone here to celebrate with us, so I love you guys.”

In celebration of their record-breaking win, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to receive a free update featuring new weapons, a new quest, and a new boss.