Nevertheless, the developers at Sandfall Interactive want to stay true to themselves, which means trusting their instincts.

The developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have had an impressive year. The game received almost unanimously positive reviews, won numerous awards, and was even publicly praised twice by French President Emmanuel Macron. But as one chapter ends, another begins, and the Sandfall Interactive team is already preparing its next project.

In an interview with Edge magazine, François Meurisse, CEO and production director at Sandfall Interactive, explained the concerns and mindset behind moving on to the studio’s next game. According to Meurisse, fans and critics are placing a certain amount of pressure on the team, but this is not something they consider central. They have time to properly focus on the next project. They have several strong ideas they are eager to explore, and they are not starting from zero. With five years of experience behind them, the team believes it may be capable of creating something truly special.

While it is never guaranteed that a new game will surpass its predecessor or even meet expectations, and while it is understandable that Sandfall wants to downplay the importance of its next title while it remains in a conceptual phase, the studio has clearly proven that it is capable of remarkable achievements. That said, Sandfall’s next game will inevitably differ from its first, not least because the studio has now built a reputation and gathered a passionate fan base.

This reality is not lost on lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen. She admits that, as someone who cares deeply about people, she is always aware that the studio now has many fans with specific expectations and emotional investments in their work. She would be lying if she claimed not to think about that at all.

Despite the growing expectations surrounding the studio, it appears that the developers remain committed to their creative autonomy. From a creative standpoint, they have always focused on their own tastes: what they like, what they enjoy, and what they want to see. Svedberg-Yen notes that she has seen too many TV shows and books lose their essence by trying to please everyone. As a result, the team feels it must trust its instincts and continue to believe in the vision driving the studio.

Source: PCGamer, GamesRadar