Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Proves The AA Industry Isn’t Dying, It’s Thriving

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Only recently, as everyone was crafting Jack-o’-lanterns and experiencing chills, the ex-president of PlayStation, Shaun Layden, said something that left me quite surprised.

He declared to the gaming world that the category of gaming projects known as AAs, which are typically developed by moderate-sized teams with mid-range budgets, no longer exists. He referred to these games, which often outperform expectations given their resources, as being “extinct.

It was a strong assertion, one that seemed particularly advantageous for Sony alumni at the time. Although he criticized the right aspects and expressed regret over the era of bloated and uninspiring AAA games, this perspective actually benefited large corporations if the public came to believe that there were no charming underdogs in the indie (AA) gaming scene.

If the year 2025 has shown us something thus far, it’s this: The AA sector isn’t on its deathbed; instead, it’s flourishing. It’s currently the epicenter of all innovation, and these mid-level contenders could potentially be the disruptor that the AAA industry has been avoiding for what seems like forever.

The Copy & Paste Collective

As a passionate gaming enthusiast, it’s become apparent that the big-name video game industry has been relying heavily on repetitive strategies for quite some time now. It seems like every major franchise is striving to refine their new releases, creating almost identical templates that seem to generate annual profits like mechanical cash cows.

Rather than investing heavily in inventive gameplay, it appears that a significant portion of the budget is dedicated to marketing instead. Games such as Call of Duty are infamous for spending more on promotion than on actual development, as evident by comparing the original Black Ops and Black Ops 6. If you’re skeptical, try playing both games and then ask Creed Bratton to point out the differences.

It appears that most of the risks being taken in the gaming industry these days revolve around live service games. Even big AAA companies are eagerly producing games they hope might become their version of Fortnite, but instead they’re often releasing unwanted or disliked titles with this aim. This alluring prospect has trapped many companies, and some continue to repeat the same mistake.

It appears that efforts are directed towards maintaining player loyalty, while it might seem that exceptionally skilled developers are instead meticulously refining game elements to present an idealized screenshot that serves as bait for skeptics yearning for the extraordinary.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve come to realize that one timeless fact in our gaming world hasn’t changed since its inception – the secret to keeping players hooked is by ensuring the game itself is enjoyable to play.

An instance that was illustrated more effectively through the recent triumph of Clair Obscur Expedition 33, serves as an example. This is a game developed primarily by a group who previously worked at Ubisoft.

It seems they may have grown tired of constructing moderately secure ‘7/10’ open-worlds and yearned for a more substantial project. And indeed, they accomplished that goal, exceeding it in the process.

For Those That Come After

The Clair Obscur Expedition 33 might not have been the first successful Japanese-style Role Playing Game (JRPG) from France, but rather, that honor belongs to Sea of Stars, as you might say.

It seems quite accurate to assert, given the current circumstances and the passing of time, that Sandfall is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding French exports we’ve encountered in a while – not since Thierry Henry have I felt such enthusiasm. The title itself exudes an appealing allure.

A game crafted collaboratively by thirty-three creative minds, all sharing a distinct vision, a passion to create something unique, and above all, a game that confidently chooses to be true to its identity, regardless of the outcome.

In this immersive world unlike any other, you won’t stumble upon ledges smeared with yellow chalk, nor will you be overwhelmed by excessive exposition or guided by a map filled with countless markers and tasks. Instead, it’s up to you to decipher the story on your own, much like navigating TikTok without second-screening.

This design method is difficult for those providing funds for big-budget games to accept, as they fear that if the general audience doesn’t grasp it, they might miss out on a potential sale. From the perspective of a wealthy executive, this could seem like an apocalyptic situation.

However, in the realm of AA – a setting I can vouch is authentic rather than fictitious – there’s been a revitalizing pattern where games empower player autonomy, entrusting us with forging our own journey, and moreover, respecting our intelligence instead of patronizing us excessively.

In 2025, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, another title from the Adventure category vying for year-end honors, serves as an excellent illustration. This game immerses you in a harsh, unforgiving, and unapologetically authentic world, challenging you to survive.

In this game, you won’t find any shortcuts like purchasing horses with microtransactions or using exploits to amass coins quickly. Instead, you must embark on your journey and figure everything out for yourself through hard work.

Both Clair Obscur and KCD follow the same principle of unadulterated game design: They don’t aim to create games that can be easily mastered by everyone, but rather they focus on delivering 100% pure, undiluted experiences without any concessions. The goal remains consistent throughout the development process and is never swayed.

These games have blazed a trail, much like the daring explorers across the continent. This trail has been trodden by others who followed, but it’s strewn with the fragments of once-lofty ambitions and aspirations of the corporate world’s ruling class.

We Will Not Be Denied

Since I managed to secure an early access to Clair Obscur prior to its release, I had a feeling that any potential issues or problems with the product would eventually be resolved.

However, prior to its release, there was a legitimate concern that Sandfall’s masterpiece, Sandfall, might get overshadowed by the upcoming re-release of Oblivion Remastered, which could dwarf it with its grand entrance.

Despite an iconic RPG receiving a well-crafted remaster, Clair Obscur managed to hold its ground. This lesser-known competitor in the AA category forged its unique path, and more remarkably, it seems to have outshone the Bethesda juggernaut. Now, it’s the game that everyone is talking about.

A significant milestone that carries weight in authenticity. To clarify, it’s not that people don’t appreciate remasters, remakes, or nostalgic bursts. In fact, I was as eager as you likely were to grab Oblivion from the PS store. However, it underscores a challenging reality for AAA publishers:

The term “harsh truth” is used here to describe a difficult situation or reality that these publishers face, due to the high demand for remasters, remakes, and nostalgic games.

Established classics and well-known intellectual properties might continue to be popular. However, in terms of novel intellectual properties and innovative concepts, the traditional approach of offering more of the same in the AAA industry will likely become less effective moving forward.

Individuals seek deep, innovative endeavors from creators, and initiatives that are liberated from the constraints of rigid timelines, excessive goals, and generic concepts. Games like Clair Obscur and KCD2 might have been the first AA games in a while to capture AAA allure, but they won’t be the only ones.

They Would Kill Them if They Could

So, what was this rant for?

To start with, let me express my surprise and delight at discovering that this game is, without a doubt, the finest Final Fantasy title I’ve ever encountered, despite not being part of the franchise as such – no Chocobos or Cids here. However, there’s more to it than just praising Sandfall; let me explain why.

It’s clear as day for everyone to see – when it comes to prioritizing, ventures driven by passion will consistently stand out above the rest.

In simpler terms, games such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which seem like teams are struggling to keep the project afloat, can’t compete with developers who have a vision and a dream for their project.

As a gamer, I’ve come to realize that mass-produced battle royales, looter shooters, and yearly sports titles often fail to appreciate their player base compared to thoughtfully designed, one-of-a-kind gaming experiences. These special ventures are genuinely cherished.

Perhaps optimistically speaking, I can merely express my hope that Clair Obscur, a name meaning ‘light dark’, is a game that guides us from the shadows into the brilliance. A time of invention, exploration, and novel concepts, rather than the repeatedly regurgitated products we frequently encounter from profit-driven publishers.

As a passionate enthusiast, I often find myself reminiscing about the power of the small stone that sets the larger ones in motion, ultimately causing even the mighty mountains to yield. In the same vein, I believe it’s time for us to raise our expectations, and maybe, just maybe, the industry will be compelled to do the same.

Until then, tomorrow comes.

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2025-05-02 16:41