Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has quickly become one of the breakout RPG success stories of the year, landing major critical praise and even taking a top “game of the year” honor at Geoff Keighley’s annual awards showcase. With that kind of momentum, the industry’s next question is predictable: what comes next?

According to recent comments highlighted by Rock Paper Shotgun, the game’s writer isn’t eager to let audience expectations dictate Sandfall Interactive’s future plans—despite admitting they can be “a bit of a people pleaser.” The message is clear: acclaim doesn’t automatically mean the studio will pivot into safe follow-ups, fan-service story beats, or a checklist of what players think they want.

### Sandfall Wants Room to Breathe After a Big Win
For a rising studio, Expedition 33’s reception creates a new kind of pressure. A hit invites calls for sequels, expansions, and “more of the same,” but Sandfall appears determined to protect the creative identity that helped the game stand out in the first place. Rather than treating awards as a mandate, the team seems focused on making decisions based on internal vision—whether that leads to a direct continuation or something more unexpected.

### Why This Matters for Players and the Market
In an era where successful games can get trapped in endless iteration, a developer pushing back against expectation-chasing is notable. If Sandfall can maintain that discipline, the upside for players is straightforward: bolder stories and fewer watered-down design compromises. The risk, of course, is that deviating from what worked can alienate some fans—but it’s also how studios avoid becoming predictable, and how new RPG voices keep the genre moving forward.

Source: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/clair-obscur-expedition-33s-writer-doesnt-want-to-follow-audience-expectations-despite-being-a-bit-of-a-people-pleaser |