adminThe team behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 says it has no immediate plans to expand the studio, despite the game’s success. Sandfall Interactive’s leaders believe a close-knit team and a manageable scope help them focus on making games rather than taking on more management responsibilities.
Image credit: Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 team wants to stay focused
In an interview, creative director Guillaume Broche and lead programmer Tom Guillermin discussed whether the studio might grow after the role-playing game’s strong reception. Broche said that working within creative limits can help a team make better decisions, and that a larger production is not automatically the right next step.
Although the studio could use its increased resources to expand, Broche said that doing so would bring more management work. He and the management team would still want to stay directly involved in development, and their preference is to continue making games hands-on. He also described the five years spent working on the project as some of the best of his life and said he hopes to find that same satisfaction in the future.
Why the studio values its current team structure
Guillermin said that team members know one another and are accustomed to working together. The previous project has given Sandfall Interactive a solid foundation, but he said growth for its own sake is not part of the studio’s plan.
According to Guillermin, the goal is to release high-quality games, not to build the largest possible team. He acknowledged that large teams can also create excellent games, while explaining that Sandfall Interactive considers its current size and working relationships a good fit.
- Team familiarity: The developers already have established working relationships.
- Hands-on development: Studio leaders want to remain involved in making games.
- Purposeful growth: The team does not view expansion as a goal by itself.
For players, this position does not confirm the size or scope of any future game. It does, however, indicate that Sandfall Interactive is prioritizing its preferred way of working rather than assuming that a successful release must lead to a larger studio. A focused team can choose to protect its existing structure while deciding how to approach future projects.
Awards recognize the game’s success
The report also noted that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 received Game of the Year at the 15th Annual New York Game Awards. At that time, it had also earned eight nominations across nine categories at the 26th annual Game Developer Choice Awards, as well as eight nominations across nine categories at the 2026 DICE Awards.
Those achievements provide context for questions about expansion, but the developers’ comments make clear that awards and attention alone will not determine the studio’s structure. For Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and the team behind it, maintaining a collaborative process and staying close to game development remain central priorities.
