Although Oblivion Remastered was long expected this week, it's a surprisingly small challenger that's stealing the hype, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 . The very first game by French studio Sandfall Interactive flew beyond one million copies within three days of its launch on 24 April.
Million copy milestone in just 72 hours
The numbers are jaw-dropping, considering the game is indie. Rarely and refreshingly, Clair Obscur shows us an underdog's tale in the face of the AAA giants that once bombastically ruled the headlines and storefronts. Early reviews and word of mouth were vital engines of momentum.
Critics appreciated the stunning artistry of the game, its peculiar blend of turn-based combat with real-time elements, and an emotionally crushing storyline. The eerie world, wherein a mysterious Paintress dooms her citizens to die every year by painting their age on a monolith, captivated audiences in a manner so few would have envisaged.
The game currently holds 92% positive reviews on Steam while its Metacritic ratings are just as enviable, with a critic average of 92 and an unprecedented user score of 9.7. These figures rival, in some cases even surpassing, the reception giants like Grand Theft Auto V and Elden Ring received from critics.
Most notably, Clair Obscur's achievement came two days later as Oblivion Remastered-dedicated to the revival of Bethesda's ever-loved 2006 RPG-was launched. Assuming an acceptable critical reception (87 Metascore and 8.1 user rating), Sandfall's newborn IP managed to catch the gaming community's attention in an unexpectedly big way.
According to the game's publisher Kepler Interactive, the sales milestone indicates units shipped to retailers, which doesn't factor in Game Pass players, so the number of players could be even higher.
As Clair Obscur establishes a legacy of its own, industry watchers are now granting it a stamp as one of the biggest gaming successes for 2025-a testimony that sometimes, creativity and heart shine brighter than any corporate spotlight.
Million copy milestone in just 72 hours
The numbers are jaw-dropping, considering the game is indie. Rarely and refreshingly, Clair Obscur shows us an underdog's tale in the face of the AAA giants that once bombastically ruled the headlines and storefronts. Early reviews and word of mouth were vital engines of momentum.
Critics appreciated the stunning artistry of the game, its peculiar blend of turn-based combat with real-time elements, and an emotionally crushing storyline. The eerie world, wherein a mysterious Paintress dooms her citizens to die every year by painting their age on a monolith, captivated audiences in a manner so few would have envisaged.
And here we are.
— Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (@expedition33) April 27, 2025
Three days after launch.
One million copies sold.
Thank you for believing in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. pic.twitter.com/92T2qZxcHP
The game currently holds 92% positive reviews on Steam while its Metacritic ratings are just as enviable, with a critic average of 92 and an unprecedented user score of 9.7. These figures rival, in some cases even surpassing, the reception giants like Grand Theft Auto V and Elden Ring received from critics.
Most notably, Clair Obscur's achievement came two days later as Oblivion Remastered-dedicated to the revival of Bethesda's ever-loved 2006 RPG-was launched. Assuming an acceptable critical reception (87 Metascore and 8.1 user rating), Sandfall's newborn IP managed to catch the gaming community's attention in an unexpectedly big way.
According to the game's publisher Kepler Interactive, the sales milestone indicates units shipped to retailers, which doesn't factor in Game Pass players, so the number of players could be even higher.
As Clair Obscur establishes a legacy of its own, industry watchers are now granting it a stamp as one of the biggest gaming successes for 2025-a testimony that sometimes, creativity and heart shine brighter than any corporate spotlight.
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