Expedition 33 Studio Chooses Not to Expand for Upcoming Project Despite Capability

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as one of the standout hits of 2025, and its commercial triumph has given developer Sandfall Interactive the chance to expand for their next venture. However, the studio has decided against this growth, and the reasoning seems sound. In a conversation with an outlet, studio head Guillaume Broche expressed that he feels no urge to scale up following the success of Expedition 33, which marked the studio’s first release. Why the hesitation? He explained, “I think it’s good to have limitations when you are creative. It’s the best way to be the best version of yourself. We could grow now that we have more resources, but it’s not tempting for us because even the management team and I would need to be hands-on and involved in everything.” He emphasized their passion for game development over management, stating, “These past five years were some of the best of my life, and I want to be happy like that again.” Broche’s philosophy centers on “adapting the game to the team, not the other way around.” He noted that the ambition behind Expedition 33 was to create a game that the developers themselves wanted to play. “It’s about making a game you want to play. It sounds contradictory, but [try to] not care too much about the players, because if you care about your game, it means you care about the players ultimately,” he said. “The best way for me to care about people is to create something sincere. If it feels human, even with minor flaws, it’s forgivable. It just needs to have a strong soul and identity.” Expedition 33 sold over 5 million copies and garnered multiple accolades, including a record nine wins at The Game Awards, where it took home the coveted Game of the Year title. Recently, the game faced controversy when The Indie Game Awards rescinded its Game of the Year win due to concerns over AI. Additionally, there was some debate regarding its classification as an “independent” game. Its success has also sparked optimism for the future of lower-budget games in a market often dominated by high-cost sequels. While Sandfall has yet to reveal their next project, they certainly have a high bar to meet following the remarkable critical and commercial success of Expedition 33.