Clair Obscur is 2025’s Biggest Third-Party Xbox Game Pass Launch

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the biggest new third-party game launch on Xbox Game Pass in 2025, measured by unique users in its first 30 days. The debut title from Sandfall Interactive, released in Apr. 2025, has also sold 5M copies worldwide as of Oct. 8, reinforcing its rapid commercial rise and awards momentum.

Sandfall creative director, Guillaume Broche, said Xbox’s early support and day-one availability on Game Pass helped the studio reach players who might have overlooked turn-based RPGs, noting that the service is “letting a lot of people try our game when maybe they might not have before.”

Clair Obscur’s Record Game Pass Debut Expands Global Reach

Xbox said the team recognized the project’s potential early. ID@Xbox director, Guy Richards, highlighted how early builds showcased a mix of JRPG mechanics and French cultural themes that felt “fresh and distinctive,” aligning with the types of experiences Xbox players respond to. 

The game’s strong reception has paralleled its awards trajectory, including Golden Joystick wins and 12 nominations at The Game Awards.

Set in a threatened city marked by the annual disappearance of its eldest citizens, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 follows a group determined to stop the Paintress and end the cycle. The title’s narrative-driven design and evolution of turn-based combat have contributed to its adoption across Xbox platforms and PC.

Xbox positioned the game as a model for the broad range of titles Game Pass aims to support, giving new studios greater visibility while extending access for players. Expedition 33 is available now on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and as an Xbox Play Anywhere release.