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The game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not only an impressive Game of the Year candidate, it’s also a massive financial hit. Developer the development team along with publisher Kepler Interactive revealed that the game surpassed five million copies sold, this is in spite of it being a launch-day addition on Xbox Game Pass.

The game's performance was an unexpected turn to the developers. “I was strongly believing that we would have a solid title garnering moderate commercial success,” the COO and producer explained.

Another leading developer noted this title's critical score, now standing at 93, came as the greatest surprise” for everyone versus “our initial expectations and what the reality turned out to be. Because when it dropped the entire team were cheering loudly. It was really frantic.”

That success prompted the studio creating a complimentary expansion for players with a new environment, adversaries, along with challenging bosses, reportedly would be out in the next few months.

Nevertheless, while the game is growing, it's unlikely the team will expand. “We have a talented crew with a strong creative director possessing strong ideas for the project and also for new ideas. We intend to preserve the close-knit size that led to our success and perhaps create major titles sequentially,” the producer added.

Their team size sparked a storm of discussion upon the title's release. Some developers, including renowned designers, viewed this studio as a perfect example for a studio. Although the team is and was indeed a small team next to major studios, a quick look at Expedition 33’s credits shows that dozens of people worked on it; the French studio hired a team in Korea handling movement and effects, as an instance.

“We will hire slightly more certainly should there be next an upcoming production peak in the coming years,” they stated. “Yet I picture more of a workshop comprising a handful really talented people that create a work of art together.” They emphasized that Sandfall’s vision as a company “aims to keep the strengths that made this achievement possible originally.”

While it may be too early for Sandfall to reveal exact details regarding upcoming titles — believe me, efforts were made — they are certain what’s at its core. “Strategic combat, I think it's in the DNA of what we built,” they said. “It's a bit too early to specify future passions, however, it's crucial to adhere to the DNA of studio featuring rich storytelling and engaging mechanics that drives our passion.”

The lead programmer mentioned how this game began with the visionary developing his passion title. And hopefully that philosophy we will be able to do in coming projects.”