Microsoft has confirmed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a critically-acclaimed RPG, has become the biggest third-party launch title in Xbox Game Pass for 2025. The game achieved this milestone by attracting a large number of unique players within its first thirty days of availability on the platform.
Developed by Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set in a ruined world where a godlike being known as the ‘Paintress’ is erasing humanity each year. Players take on the role of expeditioners trying to stop her. The game has received widespread praise for its turn-based combat system, imaginative setting, and beautiful art direction.
The game’s success can be attributed to Xbox Game Pass, which helped it reach a wider audience by allowing players to try it out without commitment. According to Sandfall Interactive’s creative director, Guillaume Broche, the subscription service was instrumental in lowering the barrier of entry for potential players.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has already procured several awards, including seven at the Golden Joystick Awards and 12 nominations at the upcoming Game Awards 2025. The game is available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC via Windows, and Steam, with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers able to download it on their consoles and PCs.
The game’s success has left Sandfall Interactive planning to add more content for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in the future. If you’re interested in experiencing this award-winning RPG for yourself, it can be purchased now or downloaded through Xbox Game Pass.
Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/microsoft-confirms-clair-obscur-expedition-is-xbox-game-passs-biggest-third-party-launch-of-2025