Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the turn-based RPG that has captivated gamers worldwide, wasn’t always the atmospheric, Belle Époque-inspired title it is today. In a recent interview, Clair Obscur narrative lead Jennifer Svedberg-Yen shared fascinating insights into the game’s evolution, revealing that it originally featured a drastically different concept — one that included steampunk aesthetics, zombies, and aliens.
Svedberg-Yen explained that while the game’s core gameplay mechanics remained relatively similar throughout development, the narrative was once set in a Victorian England plagued by zombies and extraterrestrial beings. This early version of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took six months of development work before the team decided to scrap the idea and pursue a reboot. According to Svedberg-Yen, “It was a complete shift. We moved from a steampunk setting with a much darker, dystopian world to the Belle Époque-inspired fantasy that fans know today.”
The narrative has since evolved into a journey of a group of volunteers on a mission to destroy the enigmatic Paintress. The emotional weight of the story is backed by the stunning visual style and an expansive, turn-based combat system that draws influences from Final Fantasy and Persona. With Clair Obscur’s rousing score and deep, evocative narrative, it has already garnered attention as a game of the year contender.
Interestingly, the game’s visual transformation from its early steampunk concepts to the final design was not the only significant change. The combat system, influenced by popular JRPGs, has been a core focus for the developers, evolving to meet player expectations. The latest update to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has introduced several improvements, including an ability nerf to enhance balance, fixes for bugs, and Steam Deck performance optimizations for a smoother gaming experience.
Fans of the game are eagerly awaiting the next chapter, and with the game’s ongoing popularity, it seems that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s continued evolution will keep players coming back for more. From its original concept as a steampunk, zombie-filled adventure to the sophisticated, emotionally charged RPG we see today, Clair Obscur has clearly found its identity.