French indie developer Sandfall Interactive celebrated a major achievement at The Game Awards 2025 as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took home nine awards out of ten nominations. Among the wins were Game of the Year and Studio of the Year, marking a significant milestone for a project developed with a budget under $10 million. The recognition highlights how smaller studios can deliver high-quality experiences that rival larger productions in both design and gameplay.
Following the awards ceremony, Sandfall Interactive released version 1.5 of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a free update designed to add new gameplay content and quality-of-life improvements. One of the most notable additions is the new playable environment, Verso’s Drafts, which becomes accessible from Act III on the world map next to Lumière. This new location introduces fresh enemies and challenges and requires Esquie’s underwater ability to explore fully, providing both returning players and newcomers with new experiences to uncover.
The update also adds new Luminas, weapons, and character costumes, allowing for expanded customization of the Expedition team. Late-game players will find new boss battles in the Endless Tower, which feature variations of iconic bosses designed to present more difficult challenges. Additionally, the “Old Key” quest item, previously obtainable only in the game’s prologue, is now available in the final area, giving players a second chance to complete all journals in a single playthrough.
Version 1.5 also improves accessibility and usability. New text and UI localizations have been added for Czech, Ukrainian, Latin American Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian, bringing the total supported languages to 19, with more planned in future updates.
Several gameplay enhancements have been included in the update: players can now save up to 50 different Lumina loadouts using the new Lumina Sets feature, enabling quick adaptation of tactics in combat. The Abandon Battle option is now available from the pause menu during encounters. A Photo Mode has been introduced, offering a variety of settings for players to capture in-game moments. The HUD can now be adjusted between 80% and 120% for better visibility, and input remapping is available for controllers. Additionally, the game has received official certification for the Steam Deck and ROG Xbox Ally.
Alongside these new features, version 1.5 also addresses multiple bugs and performance issues reported by the community. The full changelog provides detailed information about these fixes, ensuring a smoother and more stable gameplay experience.
The combination of critical acclaim and ongoing updates positions Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a notable example of how indie games can achieve both commercial and creative success. With the new update, players have additional reasons to revisit the world of Expedition 33, explore new locations, and test their skills against enhanced challenges. Sandfall Interactive continues to demonstrate a commitment to expanding the game’s content while maintaining performance and accessibility across multiple platforms.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 remains one of the most talked-about games of 2025, drawing attention from both critics and players with its combination of rich storytelling, challenging gameplay, and continuous support from its developer.
