Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has established itself as one of the great surprises in gaming in recent years, thanks to the herculean work of Sandfall Interactive. In a recent interview with Edge Magazine, producer François Meurisse revealed that the French studio had to do practically double the work compared to other teams. This extra effort, as explained this Monday, January 12, 2026, was necessary due to the team’s unique composition, mostly made up of junior and first-time developers in the industry. The game, which is the developer’s debut, captivated audiences and critics after its release last year, accumulating major awards, such as those from The Game Awards.
The how this feat was achieved is a story of investing in new talent. Located in Montpellier, a young city in the south of France, Sandfall did not have the resources to hire veteran professionals. Therefore, the board chose to empower a new generation of creators, teaching skills from scratch. This internal building process, while developing an ambitious turn-based RPG, demanded an intense production pace. In this way, the studio not only finished the project but also created a culture of collaboration and mutual learning that became a differentiator.
The value of the new generation and the legacy of the effort
According to creative director Guillaume Broche and lead designer Michel Nora, the junior devs’ lack of prior experience was actually an advantage. As they had no rigid expectations about how a studio should work or a game should be made, they brought fresh ideas and an innovative approach to the project. Despite this, Meurisse emphasizes that the game’s scale required everyone to learn by doing, which naturally lengthened the process. However, the producer also shows affection for the period, highlighting the opportunity to collaborate with other teams in the region and the pride in the final result.
Therefore, the narrative behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 goes beyond strategic combat and stunning art. It is a testament to the power of betting on developing talent and the dedication required to turn an ambitious vision into reality. The game’s success, which now even serves as inspiration for titles like Sword and Fairy 4, proves that investing in people and creative processes, even if they require double the effort, can yield extraordinary fruits and leave a mark on the industry.
