"It's been a long time since I've been so hooked": the global success of the French video game "Clair obscur: Expedition 33"

Industry professionals and gamers alike agree: "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" is the best release of the year. In three days, the first production from a small team in Montpellier sold more than a million copies.

"You can't reserve, there's no waiting list." It's now difficult to get your hands on a physical copy of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. "As soon as we get one, it goes out the same day, immediately. We're actually out of stock today," explains Bastien, manager of a Micromania store in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. A large poster of the game is stuck on the counter, but on the shelves, it's impossible to find it.

With over a million sales in just a few days of release and critical acclaim, the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 video game is a huge global success. It is the first production from the French studio Sandfall Interactive, founded in 2020 and based in Montpellier, Hérault. A French success hailed by the President of the Republic. "You are shining a spotlight on French audacity and creativity," Emmanuel Macron wrote on Instagram.

Clair Obscur is a story set during the Belle Époque. Every year, a number painted on a monolith, a large block of stone, condemns those who have reached the fateful age to death. Several characters then decide to defy the Painter and her curse.

Florian, 30, hasn't managed to get his hands on the game yet. This video game enthusiast was drawn to the world of Clair Osbcur . "There's a little something extra in the graphic style that makes the game look like a large painting, it's very French ," explains Florian. "And it definitely looks better than the games that big companies can offer us at the moment." An opinion shared by Paul, who also appreciates the game's price of 50 euros. "Before, games were 70 euros. Now, it's 80. We see that Mario Kart on the Nintendo Switch 2, which is coming out, costs 90, and these are 50. So it feels good, we feel a little respected."

The trend is the same on forums and social networks. Gamer Croustiflex, 40, is adamant: it's a success. "I haven't finished it yet because I'm trying to slow down my experience a little ," says the gamer. "I'm used to playing a lot of games, without even finishing them because I get bored very quickly. And this isn't the case. It's been a long time since I've been so hooked like this."

A truly French success, as the Sandfall Interactive studio is based in Montpellier. Two of the founders are former Ubisoft employees. Proof that French video games still have a future despite the crisis the industry is going through.