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

When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered at the same time as the launch of the role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many assumed it would overshadow the newcomer. However, according to Kepler Interactive, the publisher of Clair Obscur, not only did Oblivion not detract from Clair Obscur's success, but it actually enhanced it by increasing the overall excitement for the RPG genre.

Matt Handrahan, senior portfolio manager at Kepler Interactive, shared insights with The Game Business on how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 thrived despite the simultaneous release. RPG enthusiasts were faced with a tough decision: immerse themselves in the vast world of Oblivion's Cyrodiil or embark on a unique adventure to confront the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The dual release sparked a mix of excitement and frustration among fans, prompting a witty response from Kepler Interactive on social media.

In a playful X/Twitter post, Kepler shared a modified image of Clair Obscur characters entering an Oblivion Gate, captioned with "omg its like barbenheimer," humorously referencing the concurrent release of the films Barbie and Oppenheimer in 2023.

omg its like barbenheimer pic.twitter.com/TN1AFzdggc

— Kepler Interactive (@Kepler_Interact) April 22, 2025

Microsoft, the owner of Bethesda and a strong supporter of Clair Obscur since its reveal at an Xbox Showcase, faced criticism for the timing of Oblivion's shadow-drop, especially given both games were available on Game Pass from day one.

Handrahan, however, remained unfazed. "We always knew that Expedition 33 had a very specific identity," he explained. "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.

"Also, by the time we launched, we had our own momentum and felt confident standing beside Oblivion. Factors like our competitive pricing and Game Pass inclusion ensured we would attract significant interest. Everything went as well as we could have hoped, and the proximity to Oblivion didn't harm us at all. In fact, it seemed to heighten the focus on quality RPGs that week, getting everyone talking about the genre."

Did You Play The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or Both? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion RemasteredClair Obscur: Expedition 33Both

AnswerSee ResultsClair Obscur has proven to be a major success for Kepler and its French developer, Sandfall Interactive, selling over 1 million copies within just three days and boasting impressive concurrent player numbers on Steam. The game's success even earned praise from French President Macron for the development team.

Bethesda reported that Oblivion Remastered attracted over 4 million players since its launch, though specific sales figures were not disclosed. It, too, enjoyed strong concurrent player numbers on Steam.

Data from Ampere, cited by The Game Business, revealed that 35% of Clair Obscur players also played Oblivion Remastered, indicating significant overlap, particularly among Game Pass users. This overlap was less pronounced among Steam and PlayStation 5 players.

For more on Oblivion Remastered, check out our report on a player who managed to explore beyond Cyrodiil into Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell, the speculated setting for The Elder Scrolls VI.

Our comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered includes an extensive Interactive Map, detailed Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and all Guild Quests, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and all PC Cheat Codes, among other resources.

For those interested in Clair Obscur, don't miss our tips on essential things to know before diving into the game.