Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was once envisioned as a “British The Walking Dead” filled with zombies, steam engines, and aliens — yet from day one, the team knew a devastating turning point in its opening act would remain no matter how much changed. Lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen has now revealed how the project was completely rebuilt from the ground up.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has emerged as one of the year’s most surprising hits — and a “guiding light” for developers struggling to make big-budget games in a turbulent industry. A major reason for its success is the deeply emotional story crafted by Sandfall Interactive, but getting there was far from easy. Lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen explained that the original concept was entirely different and that the dramatic tone fans know today only took shape after the project was rebooted from scratch. (Warning: spoilers ahead — this article covers Act 1 and key character arcs.)

In an interview with TheGamer, Svedberg-Yen recalled that it was director Guillaume Broche who made the radical call to start over. “Guillaume called me and said, ‘Okay, we’re rebooting. We’re starting from scratch.’” The initial pitch was set in Victorian England, blending steampunk aesthetics, aliens, and zombies into a character-driven experience reminiscent of The Walking Dead. However, new investors pushed the studio to “think bigger.”

The result was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a Belle Époque-inspired story about grief and loss, shaped by a deeply personal question: “What would be the worst thing that could happen to you?” Broche’s mother’s answer — “losing a child” — became the emotional heartbeat of the game.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wasn’t Always Like This – But One Death Was Always in the Script

One of the most shocking moments in the game comes early on, when Gustave — seemingly the protagonist — dies unexpectedly. Svedberg-Yen confirmed this plot twist was never in question: “We knew from the very beginning that it was going to happen. The entire narrative was designed around that emotional journey.” She also criticized how many games handle character deaths without proper build-up. “When you’re writing, you’re embodying every character and understanding how they would react. Everything has to follow a consistent emotional logic.”

The emotional depth was further elevated by the voice cast, which includes Hollywood talent such as Andy Serkis and Charlie Cox, alongside Jennifer English and Ben Starr. Svedberg-Yen, who also served as voice producer, admitted she initially felt nervous writing dialogue for such stars: “I thought: ‘Are these words worthy of Andy Serkis?’” The result, however, was “surreal,” with each actor adding new layers of emotion to the story.

Looking forward, Svedberg-Yen says the team’s priority is to refine the technical side of the experience before considering any new content. “We’re very focused on fixing bugs and improving the player experience.” However, she didn’t rule out future DLC: “Once the dust settles, we’ll start thinking about it.”

Source: 3djuegos