Some of Sandfall Interactive’s key team members responsible for bringingClair Obscur: Expedition 33to life have recently visited Square Enix offices for an “exchange of visions and ideas.” It should come as no surprise that the gaming community is excited about the possibility of a partnership between the renownedFinal Fantasyseries andClair Obscur: Expedition 33.
A lot has already been said aboutClair Obscur: Expedition 33and its surprising breakthroughinto the gaming scene in April 2025. The game caught the attention of both RPG and JRPG fans with its engaging gameplay and story, which blends components of turn-based and real-time combat mechanics along with Soulslike elements and more. Upon release, comparisons betweenClair Obscurand the hugely popularFinal Fantasyfranchise were triggered, with plenty of gamers hoping that Square Enix would learn something from it and follow in Sandfall’s footsteps when approaching the next franchise installment.Clair Obscur’s success undeniably challenged the notion that turn-based games are outdated, proving that this gameplay style can still evolve. Now, an unexpected visit from the Sandfall devs to Square Enix’s offices may be a good sign for the genre.
Sandfall Interactive’s creative director Guillaume Broche, along with producer Francois Meurisse, art director Tom Guillermin, and Kepler’s CEO Alexis Garavaryan, recently paid a visit to the Square Enix offices. The exchange between the two studios was described by them as a “creatively rich exchange of visions and ideas.” This encounter has naturally sparked speculation about a potential crossover, especially consideringSquare Enix’s admiration forClair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Clair Obscur Developers Drop by Square Enix for Creative Exchange
Fans are happy to see Square Enix exchanging ideas with Sandfall, with some saying “This is EXACTLY what you need, Squeenix.” Others speculate aboutfutureFinal Fantasygamesand whether Sandfall developers would play a role in them.Clair Obscur’s director had previously expressed his admiration for theFFandTalesfranchises, admitting both have been key inspirations for Sandfall’s breakout RPG hit. While a collaboration between the two would definitely be something to keep an eye on, neither developer has said more about it, leaving fans to wonder.
But Sandfall wasn’t just stopping by Square Enix—theClair Obscurdevs also swung by Kojima Productionson July 24, which, as expected, also left fans hoping for a crossover with the just-releasedDeath Stranding 2. It’s unclear what Sandfall is planning with these visits, but the studio had previously revealed that it was hard at work bringing new content toClair Obscur: Expedition 33. What this content is going to be about—and whether it will feature a collab with other popular franchises—will remain a mystery for now.
