Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 studio Sandfall Interactive says its next game will prioritize creative vision over fan expectations

French studio Sandfall Interactive has said that it plans to avoid fan pressure when developing its next project, with the team saying they'll focus on "what we think is cool" rather than being guided by the expectations of its audience.

The details:

• Speaking to Edge (via GamesRadar), lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen explained that with the massive success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, its new fans have “certain expectations and certain feelings toward the game,” but that the studio plans to avoid caving into the pressure. "Creatively, we've always let our North Star be our own personal taste in terms of what we think is cool—what it is we enjoy and want to see,” Svedberg-Yen said. “I've seen too many TV shows and books be swayed trying to please a lot of people, and in the process you end up losing the heart of what's there. So [we] feel like we need to trust our instincts and continue to trust the vision behind the studio."
• Sandfall Interactive COO and production director François Meurisse went on to explain that while "there is a bit of pressure" from both fans and critics regarding its next project, it is “not so important” to the development team. He added that the studio has “some great ideas” for its next title, though it is unknown if it plans to create a sequel to Expedition 33 or something entirely new.
• Released as Sandfall’s debut title last year, Expedition 33 secured numerous accolades, including wins at The Game Awards 2025 and the Golden Joystick Awards 2025, even setting records at the former by securing wins in all but two of its 13 nominated categories.