Expedition 33 Credits Xbox Game Pass for Not Losing “Momentum” to Bethesda’s Oblivion Remaster

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Expedition 33 Credits Xbox Game Pass for Not Losing “Momentum” to Bethesda’s Oblivion Remaster

When Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was first teased back in mid-2024, it didn’t take long for it to stir up enough hype surrounding its visuals and combat style. The game has since landed on Xbox Game Pass just next to another contender – The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remaster. Both these titles made headlines, and given the surprise launch of Oblivion’s remake, some wondered if the former would be overshadowed over time.

But it didn’t. Bringing the turn-based genre back to life, Expedition 33 did extremely well since its launch. Here’s what the publishers claimed helped the game stand up to Bethesda’s remaster.

The secret to Clair Obscur’s success

In a recent conversation with 

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, Kepler Interactive’s Matthew Handrahan shared his views on Expedition 33’s release and more. Some felt that releasing the game around the same time as the remaster of one of the most beloved RPGs of the 2000s was a risky gamble.

However, as Bethesda’s new Oblivion went ahead to secure 4 million sold copies, Sandall’s latest release was in a close follow-up with a million copies sold in its launch.

The British video game publisher credited two main reasons behind the game’s success. He said –

..By the time that we rolled around, we had momentum of our own and we felt pretty confident that we could stand beside it. I think there were other aspects, like the price point we were at and the inclusion in Game Pass… so we knew we would have a lot of interest around the game..

Talking about the underlying competition between the popular titles, Handrahan disclosed that, given his experience in media, he was aware how both Western-style RPGs and Japanese-style RPGs had different appeals and audiences. He was confident that people playing an Elder Scrolls game wouldn’t necessarily play Final Fantasy and vice versa. Adding to this, he then shared how Oblivion’s timing did more good than harm. He said –

…Proximity to Oblivion didn’t seem to harm us at all. In many ways, I think it just drew attention to quality RPGs that week, and everybody was thinking and talking about the genre.

The team was fully confident in the game, standing out with its “very specific identity,” hinting at the well-written story, the actor’s performances, combat, and more.

What’s different in Expedition 33 vs. Oblivion Remaster

As someone who’s played both, it’s hard not to compare them. The TES4 Remaster pulls players back into the same nostalgic storyline with its visual charm and weirdly broken magic leveling system (yes, that still needs fixing).

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, on the other hand, feels more focused, more curated. It’s part NieR, part Persona, and just enough Dark Souls in aesthetic to catch attention, but rather than riding on nostalgia, it brings a fresh story to experience.

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TES4 and Expedition 33 performed well on Xbox. Image credits: Bethesda Games

Players took to

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to share their thoughts on both RPG titles, with a few unable to decide which one they prefer over the other.

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Simply put, “Oblivion is comfort food. Expedition 33 is the new recipe that actually works.” Do you think Xbox Game Pass gives Expedition 33 the edge it needed, or would it have thrived anyway? Which of the two do you prefer?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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#Expedition #Credits #Xbox #Game #Pass #Losing #Momentum #Bethesdas #Oblivion #Remaster

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