Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Sells One Million Copies and Hits 121,000 Concurrent Players on Steam

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the turn-based RPG from French developer Sandfall Interactive, has taken the gaming world by storm since its release on April 24, 2025. The debut title, published by Kepler Interactive, has sold over one million copies across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (Steam) in just three days, not including players who accessed it via Xbox Game Pass. On Steam, the game reached a peak of 121,422 concurrent players.

Set in an eerie world inspired by the Belle Époque, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 follows the members of Expedition 33 in their quest for the Paintress, a mysterious entity that awakens every year to inscribe a number on her monolith, wiping out all people of that age. This year the number is 33, marking a perilous mission for the team. The game blends turn-based combat with real-time mechanics, allowing players to dodge, block, and parry while linking combos and targeting enemy weak spots.

The oil painting art style, thrilling story, and voice cast featuring talents like Charlie Cox, Ben Starr, and Jennifer English have drawn comparisons to JRPG giants such as Final Fantasy and Persona. Developed by a small team of around 30 former Ubisoft developers, the game’s polish and ambition have surpassed expectations for a debut title.

Kepler Interactive announced on April 27th that the game had surpassed 1 million copies sold across all platforms, an achievement reached in just three days. This figure, which excludes Game Pass players, highlights the game’s broad appeal, especially at its accessible price of €49.99. Availability on Game Pass, the Epic Games Store, and consoles likely boosted the total player count even further.

According to SteamDB, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 peaked at 121,422 concurrent players on April 27th, surpassing the all-time records of major RPGs like Metaphor: ReFantazio (85,961), Persona 3 Reload (45,002), and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (46,161). It started with 51,922 concurrent players on launch day, saw a steady rise, reaching 98,000 players by April 26th, and exceeding 115,000 before its record high.

Critical reception was crucial to the game’s success. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 boasts a 92 rating on Metacritic, tying it with Blue Prince as the highest-rated game of 2025, and a 91 rating on OpenCritic. The high scores, growing player base, and critical acclaim position it as a Game of the Year contender alongside titles such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.