The studio behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has weighed in on Sony's announcement to end physical disc production for PlayStation consoles in 2028, criticizing the move as a reductive one for video games as an artistic medium.
Quick Facts
- Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X
- Release Date: April 24, 2025
- Developer: Sandfall Interactive
Why Sandfall Interactive Pushed for Physical Media
Speaking to Automaton, creative director Guillaume Broche expressed disappointment over the industry's shift away from physical stores. Although Broche primarily plays on PC, he noted that many team members play on PlayStation 5 and enjoy collecting physical discs.
While Broche acknowledged that ending disc production makes sense from a business perspective, he described it as a sad decision for the overall creativity of the industry. Tom Guillermin, co-founder and CTO of Sandfall Interactive, revealed that securing a physical run for Clair Obscur required active effort from the team.
According to Guillermin, a physical release introduces extra production constraints and yields lower earnings per copy. However, the studio felt the format was special and valued offering an option for players who want to hold their games. After launch, members of the development team even visited a video game store to purchase their own game as a gesture, with another developer expressing excitement upon seeing a Japanese physical copy displayed in an Akihabara store.