Sandfall Interactive is in the early stages of planning its next release, following the breakout success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Speaking with Automaton, studio CEO Guillaume Broche and other team leads outlined their approach to the studio's second project, noting that they want to capture the same passion that drove their debut title.
Quick Facts
- Developer: Sandfall Interactive
- Current Team Size: Around 26 people
- Project Status: Pre-production on the studio's second release
Staying Small and Focused
While Broche teased that the next project will be something "a bit crazy," he confirmed that the studio has no plans for a massively inflated scope. With a current team of roughly 26 staff members—which Broche calls "more than enough" for pre-production—Sandfall intends to stay small rather than using its recent financial success to balloon the developer headcount.
According to Broche, keeping the team compact forces a strict focus on what matters. This philosophy defined Expedition 33, preventing the scope from becoming too large for its own good.
Looking Beyond the GOTY Season
Expedition 33 was a lengthy undertaking for the independent team, taking roughly six years for Broche, five and a half years for Tom, and four to five years for most other staff members. Following a trophy-filled awards season earlier this year, studio leadership has emphasized that the follow-up game will not chase sales comparisons or attempt to please a broad audience.
COO and production director François Meurisse stated that the next game will focus purely on what the team finds cool, while writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen noted the importance of avoiding the trap of trying to cater to massive crowds. Because development is still in pre-production, a release window has not been announced, and the studio expects it will be a few years before the new title arrives.