There’s been a lot of buzz about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, especially with its surprising success in the 2025 Game of the Year race. What’s even more impressive? The game was made for under $10 million. That’s a drop in the bucket compared to the typical AAA game budget, which can soar to over $300 million, like Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2.
Guillaume Broche, the CEO of Sandfall Interactive, explained how they managed to keep costs down. Instead of building a sprawling, detailed open world, they opted for a smaller, more focused overworld. This allowed players to explore without the extensive resources usually needed for larger games.
Even though Sandfall is an independent studio, they got support from publisher Kepler Interactive, which helped finance parts of development, such as battle animations and localization. This partnership helped them craft a game that feels polished and rich—evidence that budget doesn’t always equal quality.
Some people think only 30 people made the game, which isn’t accurate. Sandfall’s team is indeed small, but they also collaborated with contractors. This collaborative approach proves that even in an industry where budgets are sky-high, it’s still possible to create an engaging game without overspending.
Interestingly, Clair Obscur isn’t just shorter in cost; it’s also not a time sink. You can finish it in about 30 hours, which is refreshing compared to many RPGs that take 60 or more hours to complete. Broche hopes that their success will inspire larger studios to rethink their spending and development timelines.
Broche mentioned, “We have the tech now to make those games with a relatively small team. Games like this are coming. We are lucky to be early.” This insight reflects a growing trend in the gaming industry, where smaller teams are increasingly capable of creating high-quality experiences without the massive budgets typically required.
This year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has made history with 13 nominations at the 2025 Game Awards—the most any game has received in the event’s ten-year history. It’s clear that both critics and players see the value in what Sandfall has achieved.
As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, Clair Obscur stands as a testament to creativity and smart resource management. It shows that great games can come from innovation, even when budgets are tight.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
