Cyberpunk 2077 boss says Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has left him “absolutely blown away”

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Maelle standing next to Gustave

Published:

18 August 2025

Last Updated: 19 August 2025

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Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been a major success for the game’s newly-founded studio. Alongside connecting with millions of fans, the French turn-based RPG has caught the eyes of CD Project RED co-CEO Michał Nowakowski.

Nowakowski, who has been with the company since 2005, told fans on social media that he has been “blown away” by the quality of Sandfall’s RPG. The CEO, who has overseen the creation of the company’s biggest, most expensive projects, praised Sandfall for the quality of their game.

“Finally managed to finish Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and I am absolutely blown away,” Nowakowski told fans on Twitter. “Seeing this game through to the end is a must if you decide to reach for it. I know everyone said it already but Sandfall Interactive really should be proud of the story they portrayed here. Hats off!”

While the CDPR CEO has finished the main story for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Nowakowski hasn’t finished the game’s ultimate challenge: the recently added rematch with Simon. When asked if he has been able to best the additional boss, he responded: “Sadly, nope.”

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not only one of the best games of the generation, but one of the most unique. Yes, the game may be a modern turn-based RPG that is heavily inspired by Persona’s style, but it also has its own unique elements. It’s downright thrilling to see a game succeed to this degree.

In the wake of its success, Sandfall Interactive will not be increasing its team size to work on its next idea. Speaking to GamesIndustry earlier this year, Sandfall COO and producer François Meurisse explained: “For now, our vision would be to stick to a close team working in the same city with less than 50 people on board, focusing on one project after another, and keeping this agility, and this creative strength, and smartness of a small group of passionate people wanting to do something big.”

Right now, there’s no information on what Sandfall will be working on next, but it may be another entry under the “Clair Obscur” name.

About The Author

Lewis White

Lewis White is a veteran games journalist with over a decade in the field. Starting with beloved Xbox website ICXM/XboxMAD, Lewis became the Gaming Editor at MSPoweruser before becoming the Editor in Chief of StealthOptional and Gfinityesports. Lewis later jumped to By Gamers For Gamers where he jumped to become EIC of VideoGamer and the host of the New VideoGamer Podcast prior to the website’s acquisition.

Over the years, Lewis has also seen long-form investigative pieces published in outlets such as Eurogamer, PCGamesN, Wireframe, Retro Gamer, Nintendo Life, and EDGE. Now, as the Editor in Chief of FRVR Blog, Lewis strives to bring the same level of quality journalism with interview-led content to the site in both written and audio form with the FRVR Podcast.

With a First Degree BA Hons in Games Journalism and Public Relations, Lewis has been a stable part of the British games press for over a decade, and has frequently displayed his love of Halo, The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and other games pretty much everywhere he’s worked. And FRVR is no different.

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