Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a massively popular indie game which requires no introduction. Sandfall Interactive’s debut, turn-based RPG has seen massive success, including selling over five million copies in five months, winning seven Golden Joystick awards, and having twelve nominations for The Game Awards. Microsoft has recently added onto Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s many achievements, with the company naming the game as the biggest new third-party launch on the Xbox Games Pass of 2025.

Microsoft announced Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s latest accomplishment earlier today. The game earned its title of “biggest new third-party launch on Xbox Games Pass of 2025” based on “the number of unique users in the first 30 days of its availability.” In other words, large numbers of players played the game the moment it was released on the Xbox Games Pass. 

The post also details how Guy Richards, ID@Xbox’s Director, immediately supported Sandfall Interactive’s development of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. He says, “from the start, Sandfall’s ambition was clear and we really felt they wanted to create something truly special…we experienced their gripping story, stunning visuals and the mix of JRPG mechanics with French cultural themes that felt fresh and distinctive. It’s the kind of experience we knew Xbox players would love to discover.”

Guillaume Broche, Sandfall Interactive’s creative director, has also attributed some of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s popularity to Xbox’s support and the game’s inclusion in the Xbox Game Pass. In addition to thanking fans for their continued support, Broche thanked Xbox for supporting the game’s announcement and featuring the studio in their January Developer Direct video. 

Broche also supports the idea that the Xbox Game Pass “lowered [the] barrier of entry” for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. He comments that the subscription “[let] a lot of people try our game when maybe they might not have before. The turn-based RPG genre has a lot of fans but sometimes it might put people who prefer more real-time action games off, but…they could just try it and see how it feels. So a lot of curious players could start the game…and realize there’s a lot to enjoy here, even if they weren’t expecting it at first.”

The post concludes by stating that “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a prime example of the innovative and diverse range of experiences that Xbox Game Pass was created to support, helping developers of all sizes reach a huge global audience while bringing unparalleled value to our players.” Xbox then further praises the game and affirms their pride in having promoted it to a wider audience.