Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 publisher says sales unfazed by Oblivion Remastered

NEWS Rine Ikarus - May 4, 2025, 2:34 PM

2025 has been full of surprises, and among the biggest are The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which Bethesda shadow-dropped without prior warning, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has quickly become a fan favorite among recent RPG releases. Many assumed that the indie title Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wouldn’t stand a chance against a heavyweight like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, especially with Bethesda grabbing attention early—but the results speak for themselves. In fact, the publisher of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 appears to have a different perspective entirely.

From Disadvantage to Advantage

In a new interview with The Game Business, Kepler Interactive’s senior portfolio manager, Matt Handrahan, revealed that the team wasn’t too worried about the sudden launch of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.

“When I was in the press, I saw Western-style RPGs and Japanese-style RPGs as having quite different appeals and audiences. I knew plenty of people who would play an Elder Scrolls game but wouldn’t necessarily play Final Fantasy, and vice versa.”

So far, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sold over one million copies within just three days, with the lead writer hinting at potential DLC, suggesting that competition wasn’t a major concern after all. According to Handrahan, despite both games falling under the RPG umbrella, they appeal to different types of players. Rather than cannibalizing attention, Bethesda’s surprise release may have actually benefited Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

“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—everybody was thinking and talking about the genre.”

Both The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are performing extremely well, with similar concurrent player peaks on Steam. According to The Game Business, data from Ampere indicates that 35% of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 players also played The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, showing a significant overlap in audience rather than competition.

2025 is shaping up to be a phenomenal year for RPG fans. Whether you’re looking for a deeply immersive Western RPG or a fresh twist on traditional turn-based combat, both The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 offer exceptional experiences. Use our price comparator tool to find the best deal on either The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and dive into some of the most exciting RPGs in recent memory.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 publisher says sales unfazed by Oblivion Remastered

From Disadvantage to Advantage

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