Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Reveals Release Date, Combat Mechanics and More

Sandfall Interactive unveiled exciting new details about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 during Xbox's Developer Direct, including the release date, character roster, and innovative gameplay mechanics. Let's dive in!

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: A Deeper Look

Prepare for Adventure: April 24th, 2025

Set in a captivating Belle Epoque France-inspired fantasy world, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 arrives on April 24th, 2025. Announced during Xbox's Developer Direct, the game promises a fresh take on classic turn-based combat, built from the ground up by Sandfall Interactive. Even better? It's launching day one with Xbox Game Pass!

Pre-orders are open now! Grab the base game for $44.99 or the Deluxe Edition for $59.99 on the Xbox Store. Steam and PS5 players enjoy a 10% discount, priced at $44.99 and $53.99 respectively. Note: The Steam discount ends May 2nd, 2025, and the PlayStation discount (available until release at 3:00 PM local time) requires a PlayStation Plus subscription. Epic Games Store users can wishlist the game.

Beyond the release date, Sandfall Interactive shared detailed information on new characters and gameplay.

Meet the New Recruits: Monoco and Esquie

Expanding the roster to seven playable characters plus one dedicated to exploration, we meet Monoco and Esquie.

Monoco, a friendly yet bloodthirsty Gestral, transforms into defeated enemies, adding a unique combat twist. Gestrals are notably immune to the Paintress's power, making Monoco a valuable asset.

Esquie, a living legend considered the world's oldest and strongest being, focuses on exploration. He grants access to various locations, requiring the retrieval of his special stones to unlock new abilities and areas.

The remaining playable characters—Gustave, Lune, Maelle, Sciel, Renoir, and Verso—were previously revealed on October 16th, 2024, in a YouTube video. Together, this diverse team aims to break the cycle of death.

Innovative Turn-Based Combat and Deep Character Customization

Sandfall Interactive isn't just focused on visuals; they've reinvented classic turn-based combat. As highlighted in an Xbox Wire article (January 23rd, 2025), CEO and creative director Guillaume Broche explains their vision: "We didn’t want the game to just be a pretty face...every character has their own playstyle...they feel very different from each other."

This is achieved through a reactive turn-based system incorporating real-time elements. Players can dodge, parry for massive damage, and execute powerful attacks with precise button presses. Difficulty settings adjust the parry/dodge window for accessibility.

Deep character customization is key. Each character boasts unique mechanics and skill trees (like Lune's "Stain" resource). Evolving "Pictos" (equipment modifiers) after four battles yields Luminas—permanent passive effects—offering extensive build variety. Hundreds of build possibilities await!

With its blend of strategic depth and reactive combat, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 promises a thrilling RPG experience.