The Next Clair Obscur Game Could Have Fans Feeling Blue, and Not for the Reason You Think

In the wake of the blockbuster success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the French studio Sandfall Interactive is already looking toward its next project within the “Clair Obscur” franchise. While the game has sold over 4.4 million copies and been lauded for its emotional storytelling and innovative combat, a recent and widely circulated rumor suggests that the next installment could leave fans heartbroken, and it has nothing to do with a sad ending. The potential for the next game to completely abandon the beloved cast of characters from Expedition 33 has sparked a passionate debate across the gaming community.

The original game, released on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S in April, followed the journey of Gustave, Maelle, and their companions as they set out to defeat a being known as the Paintress. The story was a deeply personal and emotional one, with players forming strong attachments to the main party. The game’s ending, which presents a difficult and tragic choice, solidified the emotional investment players had in the Dessendre family. However, recent interviews with the developers and a series of cryptic tweets suggest that the next game in the franchise may not be a direct sequel, but a new story with a new cast of characters.

The “Anthology” Model: Why a New Cast is Likely

The core of this theory is based on a key quote from game director Guillaume Broche, who stated that “Clair Obscur is the franchise name” and that “Expedition 33 is one of the stories that we want to tell in this franchise.” This statement, coupled with the fact that the studio does not intend to rapidly expand its team, points toward a development model similar to that of the Final Fantasy or Persona series, where each new game is a standalone story with new characters. This approach would allow Sandfall Interactive to maintain its creative focus and avoid the immense pressure of creating a direct sequel that lives up to the emotional weight and intricate narrative of the first game.

Here’s why this is a double-edged sword for fans:

• The Upside: Creative Freedom and New Experiences: An anthology model gives the developers immense creative freedom. They can explore new settings, introduce different gameplay mechanics, and tell stories from new perspectives within the same universe. A potential sequel could explore the story of the “Writers” or another family of “Painters” with unique abilities. This keeps the franchise fresh and prevents it from falling into a repetitive formula.
• The Downside: The Loss of Beloved Characters: The biggest concern for fans is the potential “erasure” of the characters they grew to love. As the game’s endings showed, the “painted” world and its inhabitants could be destroyed. The prospect of not seeing Gustave, Maelle, Lune, or Sciel again is a genuinely sad thought for many players. This is the “feeling blue” part of the news—not from a bad game, but from the realization that the journey with these specific characters is likely over.

Drawing Parallels to Other RPGs and the Business of Fan Service

The debate around a new cast highlights a key challenge for developers of new franchises. While games like Final Fantasy have successfully built a long-lasting brand without a single, recurring cast, others, like the Mass Effect series, have struggled with the transition. Sandfall Interactive’s decision will likely be a litmus test for whether a new, beloved IP can thrive on creative reinvention rather than on fan service and a continuous storyline. From a business perspective, the anthology model is a smart way to generate new high-CPC keyword interest with each release, as each game can be marketed as a unique, self-contained experience. It allows for a fresh start without abandoning the brand entirely.

However, the emotional attachment of the fanbase is a powerful force. Many players have taken to social media and forums to express their desire for a return of the original party, or at the very least, a DLC that provides a more definitive ending for them. While the developers have teased that “something” may be cooking for DLC, it’s far from a guarantee that it will satisfy the desire for a direct continuation of the main story.

The “Clair Obscur” franchise, much like its name—which means “light-dark”—is caught between a brilliant future of creative freedom and a dark shadow of potential fan disappointment. The next announcement from Sandfall Interactive will be a crucial moment, as it will reveal whether they intend to build upon the emotional foundation they’ve already laid or forge a new, potentially equally brilliant, path that leaves their original heroes behind.