Creative director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Guillaume Brosh, said that launching the game on Xbox Game Pass “lowered the barrier to entry” and allowed them to reach a much broader audience.
This year has surpassed all our expectations thanks to the fans’ support. For a newly formed studio, releasing a debut title is filled with nerves, but the overwhelming backing has made the whole experience feel almost dreamlike.
He stressed that Game Pass let players who typically avoid turn-based RPGs sample the game without having to pay full price upfront.
From the summer 2024 reveal to the Developer Direct in January, Xbox helped amplify our message and connect us with a wide audience. Game Pass encouraged many people to try our game who might not have otherwise.
He pointed out that the turn-based RPG format can deter players who prefer faster-paced games, but Game Pass gave those players an easy way to start the game and discover its merits even if they hadn’t planned to.
The response to Clair Obscur speaks for itself: the game earned 12 nominations at The Game Awards and took home six Golden Joystick Awards, including Game of the Year.
Source: iXBT.games