During the Busan Indie Connect Festival 2026, former Sony Interactive president Shuhei Yoshida revealed that he previously advised the developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to avoid labeling their project as a turn-based RPG. Speaking on his time as PlayStation’s indie division lead, Yoshida noted that despite being impressed by the game early in development, he feared the genre was viewed as unfashionable by the wider public.
The Reasoning Behind the Labeling Shift
Yoshida’s concern stemmed from the industry climate surrounding the game's development. While Baldur's Gate 3 later revitalized interest in turn-based mechanics, Yoshida observed that other successful titles at the time, such as Lies of P, suggested a stronger player preference for brutal, action-oriented combat. He worried that Expedition 33’s roots in vintage JRPG design would cause potential players to dismiss it outright.
Quick Facts
- Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Developer: Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher: Kepler Interactive
- Release Year: 2025
- Core Advice: Avoid the "turn-based RPG" label to prevent genre-based stigma.
Sandfall Interactive ultimately followed this guidance, choosing to tout the game's "reactive turn-based battles" to better highlight its blend of JRPG mechanics and real-time inputs. According to Yoshida, the strategy was intended to ensure the game's mechanical quality was the primary takeaway for the audience rather than its genre classification.
Impact on the Industry
The game ultimately launched in 2025 to critical acclaim and a historic number of Game of the Year awards. Yoshida noted that the success of Expedition 33 has since caused a shift in publisher interest, with more studios now successfully pitching turn-based RPG projects again. The episode serves as a case study for developers on how market perception can sometimes influence—and potentially hinder—the marketing of games that prioritize classic mechanics.