Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Becomes Xbox Game Pass’s Biggest Third-Party Launch of 2025

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After winning big at the Golden Joysticks and becoming a major contender for The Game Awards, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the first RPG from Sandfall Interactive, has reached huge success on Microsoft’s subscription service. Microsoft has announced that it is the biggest new third-party game launch on Xbox Game Pass in 2025, based on how many unique players tried it in its first 30 days.

The development team has clearly felt the strong support. Creative Director Guillaume Broche shared his thanks, saying the year has been far beyond anything the studio expected. He explained that releasing a first game as a brand-new studio was scary, but the passion and support from fans made it feel like a dream.

After trying early versions of the game, the Xbox team was impressed by its emotional story, beautiful visuals, and its mix of JRPG-style systems with French cultural themes. Guy Richards, Director at ID@Xbox, said it was the kind of game they knew Xbox players would be excited to discover.

A major part of the game’s success came from launching on Game Pass on Day One. Broche said the service allowed the game to reach a much bigger audience, letting many people try it who might not have played it otherwise.

He also explained that while turn-based RPGs have loyal fans, some players prefer real-time action and might avoid the genre. Game Pass removed that barrier by letting players try it without risk. Many curious players tested the game, explored Lumière and the early chapters, and discovered there was much more to enjoy than they expected.

Xbox described Expedition 33 as a perfect example of the creative, varied experiences that Game Pass aims to support, helping teams of all sizes reach players worldwide. The game is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC via Steam, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, and it supports Xbox Play Anywhere for Game Pass Ultimate members.