In a rare and high-profile endorsement, French President Emmanuel Macron publicly celebrated the massive success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a debut title from Montpellier-based studio Sandfall Interactive. In an Instagram comment, Macron commended the game’s developers, calling it a “shining example of French audacity and creativity.”
“Un million d’exemplaires et à ce jour l’un des jeux les mieux notés de l’histoire : et oui, c’est Français ! Bravo à Sandfall Interactive et à tous les créateurs d’Expedition 33,” Macron wrote, proudly highlighting the game’s global reception and domestic roots.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was first revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2024, instantly gaining attention for its fusion of turn-based combat and artistic world design. Its Collector’s Edition sold out within a week of announcement in January 2025, signaling massive anticipation.
The game officially launched on April 24, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, quickly hitting a peak of 120,000 concurrent players on Steam. In just three days, it sold over a million copies, and by day five, physical editions were sold out across several retail outlets. Sandfall Interactive confirmed that distributors were rushing to restock to meet the overwhelming demand.
Macron’s praise of Expedition 33 not only spotlights its commercial and critical success but also underlines France’s rising stature in the global video game industry. With perfect or near-perfect review scores from critics and fans alike, Expedition 33 stands as a cultural and creative victory for French developers.
Sandfall Interactive’s first outing is already being hailed as a modern classic—an achievement made all the more remarkable by its indie origins and bold artistic vision.