As a game enthusiast, I can’t help but get excited about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a promising new addition to the gaming landscape in 2025. This debut title from the up-and-coming studio, Sandfall Interactive, is shaping up to be something truly special. By seamlessly blending traditional JRPG elements with innovative mechanics borrowed from action RPGs and other genres, Clair Obscur promises an immersive, unique gaming experience that could very well make it one of the most intriguing new games in 2025.
Clair Obscur initially piqued the curiosity of gamers when it was unveiled in Summer 2024, and since then, anticipation for this game has grown steadily after a detailed showcase during Microsoft’s 2025 Xbox Developer Direct event. It’s worth mentioning that Clair Obscur will also be available on Xbox Game Pass, which means Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC subscribers are eagerly awaiting its arrival as well, given the vast user base of this service.
Many people are eager to get their hands on the latest RPG, which has sparked curiosity about when it will be available across different platforms. Fortunately, the developers have already announced the official release date some time ago, and they’ve also recently disclosed the exact launch times. You can find all these details and more below, along with a comprehensive overview of the game, preload information, its size, and other relevant facts.
What is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
Title Game: Clair Obscur – Expedition 33 marks the first release by emerging studio Sandfall Interactive. It’s being distributed by Kepler Interactive. This role-playing game offers a 30-hour single-player experience, featuring turn-based combat reminiscent of popular JRPGs like Persona or Metaphor: ReFantazio. However, it sets itself apart by blending in mechanics typical of action RPGs as well.
In simpler terms, the game combines elements of both turn-based and real-time play, allowing players to plan their moves strategically and execute them with well-timed button presses for maximum impact. Players must also dodge or parry enemy attacks manually, which can lead to powerful counter-attacks if done successfully multiple times. The game resembles classics like the Mario & Luigi RPGs and Eternal Sonata, but with a magical twist and sleek, modern animations. It follows traditional RPG elements such as gear upgrades, leveling up stats, and skill tree progression to advance.
The game unfolds in a dark yet colorful fantasy realm, modeled after the French Baroque era, and boasts an accomplished voice cast, including actors from The Lord of the Rings, Baldur’s Gate 3, FFXVI, and other renowned series. In terms of plot, the story revolves around a band of explorers from Expedition 33, one of many groups sent to thwart an evil entity called “the Paintress.” Each year, the Paintress paints a number, and at the end of that year, anyone whose age matches that number vanishes; she is currently counting down to 33 at the start of the game.
Upon release, the game titled “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” will be accessible across various platforms including Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (Steam, Epic Games, Xbox app), and PS5. The standard retail price is set at $49.99. However, an excellent opportunity awaits PC gamers as the Steam version of the game can currently be pre-ordered for only $34.59 through CDKeys. Regrettably, there are no discounts available on the Xbox and PlayStation versions at this time, but remember it’s included in the Xbox Game Pass subscription.
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 release date and launch times
Many have eagerly anticipated Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 since it was initially unveiled in 2024. Fortunately, the day of release is nearly upon us, as the turn-based RPG is set to debut on April 24, 2025 across all its platforms.
The game developed by Sandfall Interactive is scheduled for a simultaneous global release at 8:00 a.m. British Summer Time (BST). This implies that depending on your timezone, you might get to play it earlier or later than that specific hour. Players in the Americas, for instance, will have the opportunity to start playing quite early in the morning, whereas fans in eastern regions may need to wait until the afternoon or evening.
To find out when Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will be released in your local time, you can either examine the provided graphic or refer to the following table for comprehensive details.
Does Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have Early Access?
In contrast to many contemporary single-player games that grant Early Access through Deluxe or Premium editions, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 does not follow this trend. Neither the standard nor any special edition of the game will provide early playtime; you’ll have to wait until April 24 for its release.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launch countdown
Looking forward to playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 soon? Here’s a live countdown clock that will help you know exactly when it’s time to dive in! Make sure to bookmark this page so you don’t miss the launch.
When can you preload Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
One effective method to guarantee immediate access to a freshly released game is by pre-downloading it. Pre-download is a growing trend where you can download and set up a game before its official launch date. This means you can start playing the moment it goes live, instead of having to install it at that exact instant. While pre-download benefits everyone, it’s especially useful for individuals with slower internet connections as it allows them to save time during the actual release.
Currently, preloading can be done on Xbox and PC (via the game’s Xbox app), but unfortunately, it’s not an option for Steam or PS5 at this moment. As of now, there’s no clear explanation as to why this is the case, and we don’t have any official information about whether preloading will be possible on Steam or PS5 before the release date. Fingers crossed that they make it available on those platforms as well.
Clair Obscur download size: How big is it?
As a researcher studying the gaming industry, I find it regrettable that with the increasing production values of games worldwide, many titles have surpassed the 100GB mark. This poses a challenge for gamers who wish to maintain a sizeable library of games to play concurrently. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Sandfall Interactive’s upcoming RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, buckles the trend with its modest installation requirement of approximately 43GB (with slight variations depending on your chosen platform).
This game is surprisingly reasonable and user-friendly compared to many well-known ones, although I should mention that Clair Obscur requires a Solid State Drive (SSD) in your computer for smooth performance. Most modern systems likely have one, but if you’re using an older machine, it might only have a traditional Hard Disk Drive (HDD), which is slower. To confirm, be sure to check the type of drive your computer has before playing.
To create space for Clair Obscur on your system, consider uninstalling less-frequently used games or deleting unnecessary large files. An alternative option is investing in a high-quality SSD to expand the storage capacity of your PC.
Clair Obscur could be one of the top-tier games this year, appealing to both Xbox and PC gamers who enjoy turn-based strategy and real-time action. Set for release next week on April 24, you’ll be able to play it on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5 platforms.
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2025-04-19 02:39