During CEDEC 2025 (Computer Entertainment Developers Conference), Sandfall Interactive, the developer of "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33," sat down with Automaton Japan. Creative Director Guillaume Broche and Lead Programmer Tom Guillermin shared their perspectives on current trends in game development, particularly how the industry can find more sustainable paths to development amidst rising costs.

Sandfall Interactive is highly regarded for producing high-quality titles with a lean, mid-budget team. Broche suggests that with rising development costs, more developers may be adopting this "AAA" model. "Unreal Engine makes it easier to assess the resources needed based on project size, enabling small teams to efficiently develop entertaining games," he said, citing "The Alters," another successful mid-budget title from this year, as an example.

Guillermin added that the constant pursuit of high production standards has become an unbearable burden for most studios. "I believe only Rockstar Games can handle this level of development intensity right now. As a result, many developers will be forced to limit their budgets and adopt more feasible development models like ours."

With the significant increase in the development costs and timelines for AAA games in recent years, creating a hit has become a high-risk venture. Many in the industry once believed that "AAA" games were almost extinct, but the success of "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" demonstrates that this type of game still has commercial potential and player appeal. For players, mid-budget games generally mean more affordable prices and a more compact and focused gameplay experience.

"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" is currently available on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.