"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Publisher Praises Oblivion Remastered for Boosting RPG Interest"

When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered during the launch week of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many assumed the latter would be overshadowed. However, Kepler Interactive's senior portfolio manager, Matt Handrahan, revealed to The Game Business that not only did Oblivion not hinder Clair Obscur, but it actually enhanced the excitement around the RPG genre, benefiting Clair Obscur.

RPG enthusiasts faced a tough decision: dive into hundreds of hours in Oblivion's Cyrodiil or embark on a quest to defeat the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The simultaneous release of these two games sparked a mix of joy and frustration among fans, prompting a witty response from Kepler Interactive. They posted an edited image on X/Twitter of Clair Obscur characters entering an Oblivion Gate, humorously captioned "omg its like barbenheimer," referencing the concurrent release of the films Barbie and Oppenheimer in 2023.

omg its like barbenheimer pic.twitter.com/TN1AFzdggc

— Kepler Interactive (@Kepler_Interact) April 22, 2025

Microsoft, the owner of Bethesda and a strong supporter of Clair Obscur since its reveal at last year's Xbox Showcase, faced criticism for the shadow-drop of Oblivion on the same day Clair Obscur became available on Game Pass.

Handrahan remained unfazed by the competition. He explained, "We always knew that Expedition 33 had a very specific identity. When I was in the press, I saw the Western-style RPG and the Japanese-style RPG as having quite different appeals and audiences. I knew plenty of people that would play an Elder Scrolls game that wouldn't necessarily play Final Fantasy and vice versa.

"By the time we launched, we had our own momentum and felt confident we could stand alongside Oblivion. Factors like our price point and inclusion in Game Pass contributed to our belief that there would be significant interest in our game. The launch went as well as we could have hoped, and the proximity to Oblivion didn't harm us at all. In fact, it drew more attention to the quality RPGs released that week, sparking conversations and excitement within the genre."

Clair Obscur has become a major success for Kepler and its French developer, Sandfall Interactive, selling over 1 million copies in just three days and achieving impressive concurrent player numbers on Steam. Its success led to commendation from French President Macron.

Bethesda reported that Oblivion Remastered has attracted over 4 million players since its launch, though specific sales figures remain undisclosed. It also enjoyed high concurrent player numbers on Steam.

Data from Ampere, cited by The Game Business, indicates that 35% of Clair Obscur players also played Oblivion Remastered, suggesting a significant overlap. This overlap was more pronounced among Game Pass users, with a lower percentage seen on Steam and PlayStation 5.

For more on Oblivion Remastered, we have a report on a player who managed to explore beyond Cyrodiil, venturing into Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell, the rumored setting for The Elder Scrolls VI.

Our comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and much more.

For Clair Obscur, be sure to check out our tips for the important things to know before diving into the game.