- Many fans love Clair Obscur because it is straightforward and respects people’s time.
- Not having a ‘AAA budget’ helped the studio stick to the core elements that fans like.
- Sandfall’s title is one of the best-reviewed games this year, and a solid GOTY contender.
The gaming industry has become a weird place right now. Most big companies associate massive budgets with game success, and that has heavily backfired in the past. That wasn’t the case with Clair Obscur, and that’s why it worked.
According to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director, a massive ‘AAA budget’ would’ve made the game worse. He says that would’ve forced them to increase the scope of the game, and it wouldn’t have been the same fun.
Why it matters: Games like Clair Obscur prove that you don’t need to have a huge budget, a shiny open-world, and more to make a great game. You just have to do the things the basics right and everything falls into place.
Talking to Automation Media, creative director Guillaume Broche talked about how having a limited budget was a blessing in disguise for them. It meant that the game would be straightforward and respect the players’ time.
In some ways, having a limited budget and resources is helpful to narrow down the scope of a title and distill the vision to the core elements that make it great. and maybe having unlimited scope and budget would’ve made it a less engaging game for our players.
– Guillaume Broche
Clair Obscur doesn’t have any unnecessary fleshing out, so you just jump into it, follow the story, and have a great time. If Sandfall had unlimited resources, this might’ve never happened, and it might not have turned out the same.
This makes a lot of sense, as high budgets mean a bigger scope as well. While it works in some games, in others, when the scope is bigger, sometimes things turn bland, making the overall experience mediocre.
Then there is also the fact that in the current industry, you can’t really be too sure. Budgets have become so high that it has led to cancellations and studio closures. Now, more studios are pivoting towards more manageable budgets.
Do you think not having a AAA budget helped Clair Obscur? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
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News Reporter
Abdullah is an avid gamer who primarily plays single-player titles. If you can’t find him anywhere, he’ll probably be at his desk playing The Witcher 3 for the millionth time. When he isn’t playing games, he’s either reading or writing about them.
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