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

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Sandfall Interactive recently unveiled new details about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 during Xbox's Developer Direct, offering players a closer look at the game’s release date, characters, and innovative gameplay mechanics. Read on for everything you need to know about this highly anticipated RPG.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – In-Depth Details Released

Stop the Paintress in April 2025

Set in a richly imagined fantasy world inspired by "Belle Epoque France," Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will officially launch on April 24, 2025, as announced during Xbox’s Developer Direct. Developed from the ground up by Sandfall Interactive, the title reimagines classic turn-based combat with modern innovation.

The game will be available on day one via Xbox Game Pass, giving subscribers instant access without additional cost.

Players can pre-order the base edition for $44.99 or upgrade to the Deluxe Edition for $59.99 directly through the Xbox Store. Both versions are currently discounted by 10% on Steam and PlayStation 5, priced at $44.99 and $53.99, respectively. The Epic Games Store currently only supports wishlist additions.

The Steam discount will remain active until May 2, 2025, while PlayStation users will enjoy the reduced rate up until the game’s official launch time of 3:00 PM local time. PS5 players must be subscribed to PlayStation Plus to access the introductory offer.

In addition to the release date, the developer shared deeper insights into the game’s characters and core gameplay systems.

Meet the New Characters: Monoco and Esquie

The full playable roster now includes seven combat-ready characters and one dedicated to exploration. Two of the newest additions revealed are Monoco and Esquie.

Monoco is a Gestral — a race known for their love of battle and viewing competition as a meditative practice. Friendly yet bloodthirsty, Monoco has the unique ability to transform into defeated enemies, allowing players to harness the powers of fallen foes during combat. He joined the expedition out of curiosity for future battles. Notably, Gestrals are immune to the Paintress’ influence.

Esquie, considered the oldest and strongest being in the world, plays a more passive role in combat. Instead, he grants access to previously unreachable areas across the open world. Players must collect special stones scattered throughout the game to unlock his abilities and explore hidden locations.

Other playable characters — Gustave, Lune, Maelle, Sciel, Renoir, and Verso — were previously introduced in a YouTube video released on October 16, 2024. Despite their differing motivations and clashing personalities, they unite to end the cycle of death once and for all.

Reinvented Turn-Based Combat and Customization

According to an interview published on Xbox Wire (January 23, 2025), Sandfall Interactive aimed to go beyond visual appeal and deliver a deeply engaging gameplay experience. CEO and Creative Director Guillaume Broche stated:

“We didn’t want the game to just be a pretty face. We wanted it to be like a game that feels like a real game. So every character has their own playstyle and you can really play them in a lot of different ways—but they also feel very different from each other, and they all have their unique mechanics and their unique skill tree.”

To enhance traditional turn-based combat, the team introduced a reactive turn-based system, blending real-time elements such as dodging and parrying enemy attacks. Players can also perform stronger strikes by pressing specific buttons at the right moment. This mechanic allows for dynamic and responsive combat, even within a turn-based framework.

Difficulty settings can be adjusted to extend or reduce the timing window for parries and dodges, making the system accessible to both casual and skilled players.

Character progression is deep and flexible. Each character features a distinct set of mechanics and skill trees. For example, Lune can build up a resource called "Stain" to boost her abilities, while Pictos—equipment modifiers—evolve after four battles into permanent passive effects known as Luminas.

This robust customization system enables hundreds of possible builds, letting players tailor their experience using Luminas, unique skills, and reactive combat options. The result is a fresh take on turn-based RPGs that challenges both strategy and reflexes.

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