- The Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director states that making new IPs at AAA studios is challenging.
- He describes that even pitching such games requires influence at these studios.
- As per the director, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 would have required 25 years to make at a huge studio like Ubisoft.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 saw former Ubisoft talent delivering an iconic RPG this year, and many have been shocked by the level of quality on display. As per the game’s director, he became bored with making similar types of games at the studio.
During another interview, he elaborated that such a project would have taken multiple decades at Ubisoft.
Why it matters: AAA studios are typically a lot less willing to take big risks, making unique ideas and IPs like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 uncommon in this part of the industry.
Speaking to Pouce Cafe, director Guillame Broche was asked whether a project like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 would have been possible at a major studio like Ubisoft.
He discussed the complexities of AAA development, revealing that projects with new stories and ideas typically receive pushback from the higher-ups. Guillame Broche elaborated that there are multiple approval steps that need to be cleared before the project can even commence development.
He also stated that developers need to be high up in the company’s hierarchy to hope to pitch such ideas. Concluding his response, the director stated that a game like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 would have taken a whopping 25 years to make at a AAA studio.
If it had been feasible, it would have taken me 25 years before being able to do it.
-Guillaume Broche
Therefore, the game would not have been possible to make at Ubisoft. If anything, it may have suffered a similar fate as Skull and Bones, which was stuck in development hell for nearly a full decade.
The director’s statement highlights one benefit of working at an indie or AA studio. Because Sandfall Interactive is a fairly small team, the studio was able to deliver a focused and high-quality gameplay experience with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
In fact, a former PlayStation exec has even dubbed the title a solid mix of AA and AAA gaming.
What are your thoughts on the director’s statement? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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