Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Reveals Release Date, Combat Mechanics and More

Sandfall Interactive unveiled exciting new details about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 during Xbox's Developer Direct, including its release date, character roster, and innovative gameplay mechanics. Read on to discover what awaits you!

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: A Deeper Dive

Conquer the Paintress's Madness: April 24, 2025

Prepare for adventure! Set in a captivating Belle Époque France-inspired fantasy world, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launches on April 24, 2025. Yesterday's Xbox Developer Direct showcased Sandfall Interactive's ground-up development, reinventing classic turn-based combat for a truly unique experience. The game will be available on Xbox Game Pass day one!

Pre-orders are open! Grab the base game for $44.99 or the Deluxe Edition for $59.99 on the Xbox Store. Steam and PS5 players enjoy a 10% discount, priced at $44.99 and $53.99 respectively. Note: The Steam discount ends May 2, 2025; the PlayStation discount is valid until release day at 3:00 PM (local time) and requires a PlayStation Plus subscription. Epic Games Store users can wishlist the game.

Beyond the release date, Sandfall Interactive revealed new characters and detailed gameplay mechanics.

Expedition 33's New Recruits: Monoco and Esquie

The roster expands to seven playable characters plus one dedicated to exploration! Meet Monoco and Esquie, two enigmatic additions to the 33rd expedition.

Monoco, a friendly yet bloodthirsty Gestral, views combat as a form of meditation. His unique ability to transform into defeated enemies adds a thrilling new layer to battles, allowing him to harness the powers of his fallen foes. Intrigued by the challenges ahead, Monoco joins the fight—a Gestral immune to the Paintress's power.

Esquie, a living legend and arguably the world's strongest being, takes a different approach. He acts as a guide, granting access to various locations across the open world map. Collect his special stones to unlock new abilities and explore previously inaccessible areas.

Remember the other playable characters, Gustave, Lune, Maelle, Sciel, Renoir, and Verso? Introduced in a YouTube video on October 16, 2024, this diverse team unites to break the cycle of death.

Innovative Turn-Based Combat and Deep Character Customization

Sandfall Interactive isn't just focusing on aesthetics; they're reinventing turn-based RPG combat (as highlighted in an Xbox Wire article on January 23, 2025). CEO and Creative Director Guillaume Broche explains: "We didn’t want the game to just be a pretty face…every character has their own playstyle…they feel very different from each other."

This is achieved through a reactive turn-based system, blending real-time elements. Dodge attacks, parry for massive damage, and unleash powerful attacks with precise button presses. Difficulty settings adjust the parry/dodge window for players of all skill levels.

Deep character customization is key. Each character boasts unique mechanics and skill trees (like Lune's "Stain" resource). Evolving "Pictos" (equipment modifiers) after four battles unlocks Luminas—permanent passive effects—creating hundreds of build possibilities. Combine Luminas, unique skills, and abilities to craft your perfect playstyle. This reactive system challenges both strategy and reflexes, promising a fresh take on a classic genre.