"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Publisher Praises Oblivion Remaster for Boosting RPG Visibility"

When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered at the same time as the launch of the role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many anticipated a fierce competition. However, Kepler Interactive, the publisher of Clair Obscur, reported that not only did Oblivion's release not negatively impact Clair Obscur, but it actually enhanced the excitement around the RPG genre, benefiting Clair Obscur.

Matt Handrahan, Kepler Interactive’s senior portfolio manager, shared insights with The Game Business about how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 thrived against the odds during its launch.

To set the stage, RPG enthusiasts were faced with a challenging decision: immerse themselves in the vast world of Cyrodiil in Oblivion or embark on a thrilling journey to defeat the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The simultaneous launch of these two games sparked a mix of excitement and frustration among fans, as well as a playful remark from Kepler Interactive.

In a post on X/Twitter, Kepler shared a creatively edited image depicting characters from Clair Obscur entering an Oblivion Gate, accompanied by the text "omg its like barbenheimer," humorously referencing the concurrent release of the films Barbie and Oppenheimer in 2023.

omg its like barbenheimer pic.twitter.com/TN1AFzdggc

— Kepler Interactive (@Kepler_Interact) April 22, 2025

Microsoft, which owns Bethesda and had significantly supported Clair Obscur since its announcement at last year's Xbox Showcase, faced criticism for the shadow-drop of Oblivion, especially given that both titles were available on Game Pass from day one.

Despite the potential for conflict, Handrahan remained optimistic. “We always knew that Expedition 33 had a very specific identity,” he explained. “When I was in the press, I saw the Western-style RPG and the Japanese-style RPG as having quite different appeals and audiences. I knew plenty of people that would play an Elder Scrolls game that wouldn't necessarily play Final Fantasy and vice versa.

“Also, 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. We were confident in that. And it went as well as it possibly could have done in our eyes. And, actually, 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.”

Did You Play The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or Both? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion RemasteredClair Obscur: Expedition 33Both

AnswerSee ResultsClair Obscur has become a significant success for Kepler and its French developer, Sandfall Interactive, selling over 1 million copies in just three days and achieving impressive concurrent player numbers on Steam. The game's success was so notable that French President Macron publicly praised the development team.

Bethesda announced that Oblivion Remastered has attracted over 4 million players since its launch, although specific sales figures have not been disclosed. It, too, has seen substantial concurrent player numbers on Steam.

The Game Business cited data from Ampere indicating that 35% of Clair Obscur players also played Oblivion Remastered, highlighting significant overlap. This crossover is largely attributed to both games being available on Game Pass, with the overlap percentage decreasing among Steam and PlayStation 5 users.

We’ve got plenty more on Oblivion Remastered, including a report on a player who managed to escape the confines of Cyrodiil to explore Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell, the rumored setting of The Elder Scrolls VI.

We've also got a comprehensive guide to everything you'll find in Oblivion Remastered, including an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and much more.

As for Clair Obscur, be sure to check out our tips for the important things to know before heading into the game.