The breakout success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based RPG by Sandfall Interactive, has led to some unexpected developments. Most notably, the surprise hit has drawn comparisons with Square Enix‘s legendary Final Fantasy franchise. While the two series are not directly connected, many fans have begun to view Expedition 33 as a spiritual reminder of the turn-based roots that Final Fantasy has largely left behind in its recent mainline entries, and it’s not without reason.
And that has not gone unnoticed by the powers that be. During a recent tour of Japan, the core development team behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, including Guillaume Broche, François Meurisse, and Tom Guillermin, visited several major studios in Tokyo.
Among them was none other than Square Enix, and their visit wasn’t merely a social call either. The team was welcomed personally by Naoki Hamaguchi, the current figurehead behind the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy.
In a post on his official Twitter account, Hamaguchi revealed that the meeting was a meaningful exchange of ideas and creative visions between Square Enix and Sandfall Interactive, though he did not delve into specific details.
Could Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Inspire Final Fantasy?
This vague but promising statement has already ignited excitement among fans of both franchises. Some are dreaming of potential collaboration content, perhaps even Final Fantasy-themed DLC or expansions for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which currently has no announced post-launch content.
Such an outcome wouldn’t be far-fetched, especially given that Sandfall Interactive has openly cited Final Fantasy as one of its core inspirations. On the flip side, many fans are hopeful that Square Enix could take inspiration from Expedition 33‘s success and consider returning Final Fantasy to its classic turn-based roots in future entries.
The meeting might not have produced immediate announcements, but it’s clear that the creative exchange has sparked interest and speculation across the RPG community.
