In an industry where explosive growth often follows a major hit, the French studio behind one of 2025's biggest games is taking a radically different path. Sandfall Interactive, creator of the acclaimed RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has publicly stated it has no intention of scaling up its team, despite the game's monumental commercial and critical success. This decision, rooted in a philosophy of creative limitation and a preference for hands-on development over management, offers a compelling counter-narrative to the standard "bigger is better" playbook.
A Hit Game Built by a Compact Team
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as a defining release of 2025. Developed by a core team of approximately 33 people with a budget under USD 10 million, the game defied expectations by reaching 8.6 million players, according to Alinea Analytics. This figure surpassed major releases like Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. The game's success was further cemented by critical acclaim and numerous awards, including a notable nine wins at The Game Awards. This performance provided Sandfall Interactive with both the financial means and the industry clout to significantly expand its operations—an opportunity most studios would eagerly seize.
Studio & Project Snapshot:
- Studio: Sandfall Interactive
- Headcount: ~33 developers
- Recent Project: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Released 2025)
- Development Budget: Under USD 10 million
- Player Reach: 8.6 million (per Alinea Analytics 2025 report)
- Awards: 9 wins at The Game Awards 2025
The Philosophy of Creative Limitation
In a recent interview, Sandfall Interactive's founder and CEO, Guillaume Broche, explained the studio's counterintuitive decision. "I think it's good to have limitations when you are creative," Broche stated. He argued that constraints force a team to be the "best version of yourself," fostering innovation and focus that can be diluted in larger, more bureaucratic environments. Broche emphasized that the management team, including himself, are developers at heart. "We love making games more than we love managing, so we want to keep doing that," he said, reflecting on the past five years as some of the best of his life. For Sandfall, preserving the creative culture and hands-on involvement of its leaders is more valuable than unchecked growth.
CEO Philosophy on Scale:
"I think it's good to have limitations when you are creative. It's the best way to be the best version of yourself. We could scale up now we have a lot more money, but I would say it's not tempting for us... We love making games more than we love managing, so we want to keep doing that." – Guillaume Broche, Founder & CEO
Strategic Wisdom in Staying Small
While unconventional, Sandfall's choice carries significant strategic merit. The video game industry is littered with studios that rapidly expanded after a hit, only to struggle with ballooning overheads, cultural dilution, and immense pressure when a subsequent project underperforms. By maintaining a modest size, Sandfall Interactive insulates itself from such volatility. The studio can remain agile, make creative decisions quickly, and potentially absorb the impact of a less successful future project without facing existential risk. This approach prioritizes long-term sustainability and artistic integrity over short-term scaling.
The Secret Sauce: Process Built Around People
When asked about the secret to Expedition 33's success, Broche pointed to an internal philosophy of adaptability. He explained that the key was to "adapt the game to the team you have and not the other way around." Instead of forcing the team to conform to rigid, industry-standard processes, Sandfall built its development pipeline around the strengths and dynamics of its specific group of developers. Broche also stressed the importance of sincerity in creation, advising developers to "make a game that you want to play." He believes that a project crafted with genuine passion and a strong identity will inherently resonate with players, making minor flaws forgivable.
Navigating Controversy and Looking Ahead
The studio's journey hasn't been without controversy. Shortly after launch, players identified textures that appeared to be AI-generated, leading to a patch that removed them. Subsequent statements from co-founder François Meurisse confirmed limited use of generative AI in development, a revelation that later led the Indie Game Awards to revoke two awards due to its strict anti-generative AI policy. This episode highlights the complex ethical landscape modern developers navigate. Moving forward, Sandfall Interactive remains focused on its craft, recently releasing a substantial free update for Expedition 33 as a thank-you to fans, adding new content and features like a photo mode and AMD FSR 4 support. The studio's future will be one defined not by its headcount, but by its continued commitment to focused, passionate game development.