"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Publisher Praises Oblivion Remastered for Boosting RPG Visibility"

When Bethesda quietly launched *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered* during the debut week of *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, many assumed only one title would emerge victorious. Surprisingly, according to Kepler Interactive—the publisher behind *Clair Obscur*—the unexpected overlap didn't hurt their game. In fact, it may have helped.

As explained by Matt Handrahan, senior portfolio manager at Kepler Interactive, the launch of *Oblivion Remastered* alongside *Clair Obscur* didn’t overshadow the latter. Instead, it sparked broader interest in RPGs as a genre, indirectly benefiting *Expedition 33*. Speaking with The Game Business, Handrahan emphasized how the two titles appealed to different player segments and how *Clair Obscur* had already built momentum prior to release.

“We always knew that *Expedition 33* had a very specific identity,” said Handrahan. “When I was in the press, I saw the Western-style RPG and the Japanese-style RPG as having quite different appeals and audiences. I knew plenty of people that would play an *Elder Scrolls* game that wouldn't necessarily play *Final Fantasy*, and vice versa.”

He added that factors like pricing and inclusion in Xbox Game Pass gave *Clair Obscur* a solid foundation for success. “Proximity to *Oblivion* didn't seem to harm us at all. In many ways, I think it just drew attention to quality RPGs that week and everybody was thinking and talking about the genre.”

A Friendly Coincidence or Strategic Move?

Kepler even leaned into the situation with humor, posting a meme on X/Twitter showing *Clair Obscur* characters walking through an Oblivion Gate, captioned “omg its like barbenheimer”—a nod to the simultaneous theatrical release of *Barbie* and *Oppenheimer* in July 2023.

“omg its like barbenheimer” pic.twitter.com/TN1AFzdggc

— Kepler Interactive (@Kepler_Interact) April 22, 2025

Despite concerns from fans and critics alike, both games found strong success. *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, developed by Sandfall Interactive, sold over 1 million copies within three days and received praise from players and critics alike. Even French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the team’s achievement.

Meanwhile, *Oblivion Remastered* brought in more than 4 million players since launch, though Bethesda has yet to disclose official sales numbers. Both titles saw high concurrent player counts on Steam, suggesting widespread engagement across platforms.

Player Overlap and Market Insights

According to data shared by Ampere Analysis, around 35% of *Clair Obscur* players also engaged with *Oblivion Remastered*. This significant crossover is largely attributed to both titles being available on Xbox Game Pass. The overlap percentage drops among Steam and PlayStation 5 users, indicating platform-specific audience differences.

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What’s Next for These RPG Giants?

For those diving into *Oblivion Remastered*, IGN has compiled an extensive guide covering everything from an Interactive Map to full walkthroughs of the Main Questline, Guild Quests, character builds, essential early-game tips, and even PC Cheat Codes. There's also coverage of a daring player who broke the game’s boundaries to explore regions like Valenwood and Skyrim—areas possibly hinting at the setting of *The Elder Scrolls VI*.

If you're preparing for *Clair Obscur*, be sure to check out our essential tips before starting your journey.