Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Embraces Its Indie Roots Despite Publisher Backing

Great as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is, there’s been some debate about its classification. While it has garnered praise as an indie title, this label has been questioned due to the level of funding and resources the team received. Developer Sandfall stands by the indie label, despite the backing from a strong publisher.

“We see ourselves as an independent studio, even though we get substantial support from Kepler, more than many other indie games do,” says Nicholas Maxson-Francombe, the art director for Clair Obscur. “It feels like those other games might deserve the recognition more, especially since we’re nominated in so many categories. But at our core, we’re indie.”

Kepler Interactive, known for titles like Scorn and Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, is not a small player in the industry. While they may not be as large as triple-A publishers, they certainly have the resources to back a project like Expedition 33. However, Sandfall emphasizes that their creative process was respected.

“We developed the game with an indie spirit, working with a small team and enjoying creative freedom without a parent company or publisher dictating our direction,” adds Francois Meurisse, producer on Clair Obscur. “We also chose a publisher that embodies an indie mindset, prioritizing creativity.”

Sandfall is proud to be recognized alongside other indie titles in categories like Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie Game, competing with games such as Blue Prince, Dispatch, and Hollow Knight: Silksong. The diversity among these contenders ranges from seasoned industry veterans to solo developers.

Establishing rigid criteria for what defines an indie game can be tricky. Perhaps we should simply appreciate the existence of Clair Obscur and look forward to Sandfall’s future creations.

The director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has even praised a dedicated RPG player who managed to conquer the game’s most notorious boss by taking every hit without exploiting any tricks: “I tried to do it before release and I couldn’t manage it.”