"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Publisher Praises Oblivion Remastered for Boosting RPG Interest"

When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered during the launch week of the fellow role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many anticipated a fierce competition. However, Kepler Interactive, the publisher of Clair Obscur, reported that not only did Oblivion's release not negatively impact Clair Obscur, but it actually enhanced the excitement around the RPG genre, benefiting Clair Obscur's launch.

Matt Handrahan, Kepler Interactive's senior portfolio manager, shared insights with The Game Business on how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 managed to thrive despite the simultaneous release. RPG enthusiasts faced a tough decision between diving into the vast world of Oblivion's Cyrodiil or embarking on the unique journey to confront the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The concurrent launches sparked a mix of excitement and frustration among fans, prompting a playful response from Kepler Interactive.

On social media, Kepler posted a witty image of Clair Obscur characters entering an Oblivion Gate, captioned "omg its like barbenheimer," humorously referencing the simultaneous theatrical release of the films Barbie and Oppenheimer in 2023.

omg its like barbenheimer pic.twitter.com/TN1AFzdggc

— Kepler Interactive (@Kepler_Interact) April 22, 2025

Microsoft, the owner of Bethesda and a significant supporter of Clair Obscur since its reveal at an Xbox Showcase, faced criticism for shadow-dropping Oblivion during Clair Obscur's launch week, especially since both titles were available on Game Pass from day one.

Handrahan, however, remained unfazed by the situation. “We always knew that Expedition 33 had a very specific identity,” he explained. “When I was in the press, I saw the Western-style RPG and the Japanese-style RPG as having quite different appeals and audiences. I knew plenty of people that would play an Elder Scrolls game that wouldn't necessarily play Final Fantasy and vice versa.

“Also, by the time that we rolled around, we had momentum of our own and we felt pretty confident that we could stand beside it. I think there were other aspects, like the price point we were at and the inclusion in Game Pass… so we knew we would have a lot of interest around the game. We were confident in that. And it went as well as it possibly could have done in our eyes. And, actually, proximity to Oblivion didn't seem to harm us at all. In many ways, I think it just drew attention to quality RPGs that week and everybody was thinking and talking about the genre.”

Did You Play The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or Both? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion RemasteredClair Obscur: Expedition 33Both

AnswerSee ResultsClair Obscur has become a major success for Kepler and its French developer, Sandfall Interactive, selling over 1 million copies in just three days and achieving impressive concurrent player numbers on Steam. The game's success has even garnered praise from French President Macron for the development team.

Bethesda announced that Oblivion Remastered has attracted over 4 million players since its launch, though sales figures remain undisclosed. It, too, has seen significant concurrent player numbers on Steam.

According to data from Ampere, cited by The Game Business, 35% of Clair Obscur players also played Oblivion Remastered, indicating a substantial overlap. This overlap is largely attributed to both games being available on Game Pass, with the percentage dropping for players on Steam and PlayStation 5.

We've covered Oblivion Remastered extensively, including a report on a player who managed to escape the confines of Cyrodiil to explore Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell, the rumored setting of The Elder Scrolls VI.

Our comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and much more.

For those interested in Clair Obscur, be sure to check out our tips for the important things to know before heading into the game.