In the midst of the Covid pandemic in 2020, Guillaume Broche found himself unfulfilled in his role at Ubisoft, like many others. Seeking a change, he embarked on a passion project that he had dreamt of—a role-playing game inspired by the legendary Final Fantasy series, which ultimately evolved into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Fast forward five years, and Broche's creation is the talk of the gaming world, selling a staggering one million copies within its first three days on the market.
The game is set in a captivating fictional realm called Lumiere, dominated by a massive monolith featuring a glowing number. Each year, an enigmatic figure known as The Paintress reduces this number, leading to the gradual disappearance of individuals of that age. Players embark on a quest to confront this mysterious force, and the game's inventive visuals, reminiscent of 19th-century France, stand out alongside its traditional turn-based combat.
Despite initial doubts about player interest in such a style, Broche took an unconventional route to assemble his team, reaching out through social media and online forums. One of the standout talents he discovered was Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, an aspiring voice actor in lockdown in Australia. Initially auditioning for a different role, she became the lead writer, bringing her unique insights to the game's narrative.
With the formation of Sandfall Interactive following Broche's departure from Ubisoft, the development team expanded to around 30 talented individuals, many recruited through similar online outreach. The synergy within the team was instrumental, with Broche managing to align his motivations and vision with others working on Clair Obscur.
A defining moment for the project was finding composer Lorien Testard, initially through Soundcloud. Broche's ability to connect with creative partners willing to contribute to the game has been dubbed the “Guillaume effect,” though he humbly attributes his success to the pandemic encouraging others to seek creative outlets. While funding from Kepler Interactive was necessary, the core team's diverse roles ensured seamless collaboration as they tackled various aspects of game development together.
Despite the challenges of assembling a junior team, Broche and Svedberg-Yen built a community around the game, each member actively involved in multiple roles. This collaborative spirit, alongside innovative gaming tools, propelled Clair Obscur’s production values to rival large-scale projects backed by extensive teams. With voices from recognized actors like Daredevil's Charlie Cox and Lord of the Rings' Andy Serkis, the game has not only won over fans but also garnered the admiration of figures such as French President Emmanuel Macron.
Looking ahead, Broche acknowledges the unpredictable journey of developing Clair Obscur: "Somehow it worked, which still makes no sense to me after all these years." The title continues to captivate gamers and industry watchers alike, redefining what passion can achieve within the video game landscape.
The game is set in a captivating fictional realm called Lumiere, dominated by a massive monolith featuring a glowing number. Each year, an enigmatic figure known as The Paintress reduces this number, leading to the gradual disappearance of individuals of that age. Players embark on a quest to confront this mysterious force, and the game's inventive visuals, reminiscent of 19th-century France, stand out alongside its traditional turn-based combat.
Despite initial doubts about player interest in such a style, Broche took an unconventional route to assemble his team, reaching out through social media and online forums. One of the standout talents he discovered was Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, an aspiring voice actor in lockdown in Australia. Initially auditioning for a different role, she became the lead writer, bringing her unique insights to the game's narrative.
With the formation of Sandfall Interactive following Broche's departure from Ubisoft, the development team expanded to around 30 talented individuals, many recruited through similar online outreach. The synergy within the team was instrumental, with Broche managing to align his motivations and vision with others working on Clair Obscur.
A defining moment for the project was finding composer Lorien Testard, initially through Soundcloud. Broche's ability to connect with creative partners willing to contribute to the game has been dubbed the “Guillaume effect,” though he humbly attributes his success to the pandemic encouraging others to seek creative outlets. While funding from Kepler Interactive was necessary, the core team's diverse roles ensured seamless collaboration as they tackled various aspects of game development together.
Despite the challenges of assembling a junior team, Broche and Svedberg-Yen built a community around the game, each member actively involved in multiple roles. This collaborative spirit, alongside innovative gaming tools, propelled Clair Obscur’s production values to rival large-scale projects backed by extensive teams. With voices from recognized actors like Daredevil's Charlie Cox and Lord of the Rings' Andy Serkis, the game has not only won over fans but also garnered the admiration of figures such as French President Emmanuel Macron.
Looking ahead, Broche acknowledges the unpredictable journey of developing Clair Obscur: "Somehow it worked, which still makes no sense to me after all these years." The title continues to captivate gamers and industry watchers alike, redefining what passion can achieve within the video game landscape.
