Developer Sandfall Interactive and publisher Kepler Interactive revealed brand-new details about their highly anticipated turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 including new characters, story and gameplay details, and, most importantly, a release date. In a few short moons, expeditioners can embark on their next perilous journey: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to launch on April 24th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
Our first look at the game came during the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase. While it debuted alongside major brands such as Dragon Age, Starfield, and Fable, it was the blend of turn-based JRPG mixed with action game vibes that cemented Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as one of RPGFan’s most anticipated games of 2025. This week’s update came from another Microsoft event, the Xbox Developer Direct.
Check out the release date announcement trailer below, as well as new details about the game, and the latest Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 screenshots.
In today’s presentation, Sandfall Interactive shared details about Expedition 33’s development origins, plus several new gameplay features sure to intrigue fans looking forward to the game’s upcoming release. Filmed on location at Sandfall Interactive’s studio in Montpellier, France, several members of the development team shared more detail on the game’s emotional story, stunning art direction inspired by Belle Epoque France, and its innovative reactive turn-based combat gameplay, which infuses traditional RPG mechanics with real-time defensive and offensive abilities.
Additionally, the team revealed brand-new characters players will encounter during their adventure: the friendly, yet bloodthirsty, Monoco (voiced by Rich Keeble) and the larger-than-life Esquie (voiced by Maxence Cazorla). Monoco the Gestral joins the Expedition as a fully playable character, bringing his own unique playstyle to battles by transforming himself into the enemies the party encounters and using their abilities against them, while Esquie is an altogether more unusual character that players will befriend and use to discover the game’s explorable world. Throughout the game, players will unlock more abilities with Esquie, letting the Expedition climb aboard and traverse, swim, and soar across the game’s newly revealed overworld map.
Reminiscent of classic RPGs that inspired Expedition 33’s turn-based gameplay, the world map gives players freedom to explore various new locations and secrets on their path to destroy the Paintress. Outside of rich level-based environments like Ancient Sanctuary and the Gestral Village, the overworld has unique discoverable caves and bespoke locations hosting challenging optional battles and side quests, providing extensive opportunities for players to test their mettle and master the game’s deep and rewarding character building mechanics. Players will also be able to set up camp on the overworld, taking time to reinforce their character weapons and builds, listen to the game’s stunning original score via an in-game record player, and have conversations with their teammates to learn more about their stories and motivations on their path to destroy the Paintress.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Screenshots









Pre-Order, Deluxe, and Collector’s Edition Details
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available to pre-order and will be available on April 24th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S (available day one with Xbox Game Pass), and PC. The pre-order details are amongst the most expansive I have seen since covering news for RPGFan, so we’ve got you covered below.
Alongside the physical Standard Edition of the game ($49.99 USD), the Collector’s Edition ($149.99 USD) of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for PlayStation 5 includes the following:
- The base game
- 20.3cm hand-painted Monolith music box
- Steelbook® case featuring Gustave, Maelle, and the Paintress
- The Expeditioner’s Journal 48-page hardcover artbook
- “Flowers” Collection (six outfits and hairstyles inspired by the flowers of Lumière (DLC), plus six Gommage outfit variations (DLC))
- “Clair” custom outfit for Maelle (DLC)
- “Obscur” custom outfit for Gustave (DLC)
Meanwhile, the Digital Deluxe Edition ($59.99 USD) includes:
- The base game
- The “Flowers” Collection (six outfits and hairstyles inspired by the flowers of Lumière (DLC), plus six Gommage outfit variations (DLC))
- “Clair” custom outfit for Maelle (DLC)
- “Obscur” custom outfit for Gustave (DLC)
Physical editions in North America will be available exclusively via GameStop, with Laced Records (note: there should be a listing on the website but as of this writing, the link is not working) covering Europe and other select global markets. Learn more on the Expedition 33 website.


As always, whether you’re looking to pre-order one of the year’s biggest games, or that sweet new indie that you just heard about, head on over to RPGFan’s main page to check on the latest news, reviews, and information we have for all your favorites.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.