In the midst of the Covid pandemic in 2020, Guillaume Broche found himself in a situation familiar to many—stuck in a job that wasn’t fulfilling and yearning for a change. Working with industry titan Ubisoft, he dared to dream of creating his own role-playing game inspired by the beloved Final Fantasy series.

That dream has now materialized as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has taken the gaming world by storm, selling an astonishing one million copies within just three days of its release. The game’s soundtrack rocketed to the top of Spotify's viral charts, and it even caught the attention of French President Emmanuel Macron, who praised its innovative approach.

The creation story behind Expedition 33 is as captivating as the game itself—a tale woven through chance encounters on Reddit, serendipitous luck, and an unconventional approach to game design.

A Quest Through Lumiere: The Game's Unique Premise

Set in the mesmerizing world of Lumiere, players face the ominous annual threat of The Paintress, an enigmatic force that causes all individuals of a specific age to vanish when she lowers a glowing numeral on a gigantic monolith. The narrative follows a band of characters on a perilous mission to confront this daunting entity.

What distinguishes Expedition 33 from other RPGs is not just its compelling storyline but its artistic direction inspired by 19th-century France combined with classic turn-based combat mechanics that hark back to gaming's golden age.

From Lost Souls to Found Talent

When Guillaume began assembling a team for his passion project, he took to online forums, reaching out to potential collaborators. Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, who was locked down in Australia, stumbled upon Guillaume’s post seeking voice actors for a demo. Intrigued, she auditioned and was initially cast as a major character before transitioning to the role of lead writer, shaping the game's final narrative.

After departing Ubisoft to fully commit to Clair Obscur, Guillaume established Sandfall Interactive in Montpellier, France. With financial backing from publisher Kepler Interactive, he expanded his team to around 30 people, many recruited under similar circumstances as Jennifer.

Notably, composer Lorien Testard was discovered through his music on Soundcloud, a testament to Guillaume’s knack for assembling a talented, diverse crew.

Against All Odds: The Secrets Behind Their Success

Guillaume credits the surge of creative interest during the pandemic for attracting collaborators and admits to some "massive luck" in their recruitment efforts. "Every time I reached out to someone, the response was usually a resounding 'yes,'" he revealed.

With a mix of expert input and tireless dedication from less experienced team members, the game boasts production values that rival those of massive AAA titles, thanks in part to new tools that streamline game development.

The game's voice cast includes heavyweights like Charlie Cox and Andy Serkis, and the team’s versatility means they often wear multiple hats. Jennifer even took on the role of translator, ensuring the game reached a global audience.

An Inspiring Journey Towards 2025

"We have an amazing team, primarily composed of junior members, all fiercely dedicated to the project and bursting with talent," Guillaume states.

As Clair Obscur prepares to captivate even more gamers in 2025, its unique narrative and dynamic approach prove that with passion, creativity, and a sprinkle of luck, incredible stories can emerge from even the most unexpected circumstances.