Clair Obscur: New Gameplay Unveiled

Sandfall Interactive recently unveiled crucial details about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 during Xbox's Developer Direct, including its release date, character roster, and innovative combat system. This article summarizes the key announcements.

April 2025 Launch Date Confirmed

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, set in a Belle Epoque France-inspired fantasy world, will launch on April 24, 2025. The game will be available on day one with Xbox Game Pass. Pre-orders are open now: $44.99 for the standard edition and $59.99 for the Deluxe Edition on the Xbox Store. Steam and PS5 offer a 10% discount ($44.99 and $53.99 respectively), though the PS5 discount requires a PlayStation Plus subscription and ends at 3:00 PM (local time) on release day. The Steam discount ends May 2, 2025. The game is currently only wishlisted on the Epic Games Store.

New Characters: Monoco and Esquie

The game features seven playable characters and one dedicated to exploration. Newly revealed are Monoco, a Gestral (beings who view combat as meditation and can transform into defeated enemies), and Esquie, the oldest and strongest being in the world, who unlocks areas and abilities through collected stones. Previously revealed characters (Gustave, Lune, Maelle, Sciel, Renoir, and Verso) were showcased in a YouTube video on October 16, 2024.

Reactive Turn-Based Combat and Deep Customization

Sandfall Interactive has reinvented classic turn-based combat with a reactive system. Players can time dodges and parries for increased damage, with difficulty settings adjusting the timing window. Each character boasts unique mechanics and skill trees, offering extensive customization. Lune, for example, uses "Stain" to enhance abilities, while "Pictos" (equipment modifiers) evolve into permanent Luminas (passive effects) after four battles. This allows for hundreds of diverse character builds.

This blend of strategic depth and reactive combat promises a fresh take on the turn-based RPG genre.