When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered during the launch week of the fellow role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many anticipated a fierce competition. However, according to Kepler Interactive, the publisher of Clair Obscur, not only did Oblivion not overshadow their game, but Clair Obscur actually thrived due to the heightened excitement for RPGs sparked by Oblivion's release.
Matt Handrahan, Kepler Interactive’s senior portfolio manager, shared insights with The Game Business about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's successful launch despite the odds.
For context, RPG enthusiasts were faced with a tough decision: dive into the vast world of Cyrodiil in Oblivion or embark on a thrilling expedition to confront the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The simultaneous release of these two titles elicited a mix of excitement and frustration from fans, and even prompted a witty remark from Kepler Interactive.
On X/Twitter, Kepler posted a creatively edited image showing characters from Clair Obscur stepping into an Oblivion Gate, humorously captioned "omg its like barbenheimer," referencing the simultaneous 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, the owner of Bethesda and a significant supporter of Clair Obscur since its reveal at an Xbox Showcase the previous year, faced criticism for the shadow-drop of Oblivion amidst Clair Obscur's launch, with both games being available on Game Pass from day one.
However, Handrahan reassured that there was no cause for concern. “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.”
Clair Obscur has proven to be a major 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 even earned praise from French President Macron.
Meanwhile, Bethesda reported that Oblivion Remastered has attracted over 4 million players since its launch, though sales figures remain undisclosed. 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, suggesting a significant overlap, largely attributed to both games being available on Game Pass. The overlap percentage was lower among Steam and PlayStation 5 players.
For more on Oblivion Remastered, check out our report on a player who managed to explore beyond Cyrodiil into Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell, the rumored setting for The Elder Scrolls VI. Our comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and much more.
For Clair Obscur, be sure to check out our tips for important things to know before diving into the game.
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