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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn't just an impressive Game of the Year contender, it’s also an enormous financial hit. Developer the development team along with publisher Kepler Interactive revealed that the game topped five million copies in sales, this is despite it being a day-one release on Xbox Game Pass.

The game's performance was an unexpected turn to Sandfall. “I was strongly believing that we would have an enjoyable experience that would meet moderate commercial success,” the COO and producer stated.

Another leading developer pointed out that Clair Obscur’s review aggregate, rated 93 by critics, came as perhaps the most surprising moment for everyone compared to what we anticipated and what the reality proved to be. Because when it dropped the entire team was screaming and jumping. The energy was electric.”

This triumph prompted Sandfall developing a free update for the title with a new environment, foes, and boss fights, reportedly will release within the “upcoming month[s]”.

However, despite the game's evolution, it's unlikely the team will expand. “We have a talented crew under clear creative leadership possessing strong ideas for the project and also for new ideas. We'd like to keep the small-team dynamic that worked for this game then develop one big game after another,” they said.

The studio's scale drummed up a storm of discussion when the game came out. Some developers, such as the famed director, looked at this studio as the model for creative teams. Although the team is and was indeed a small team versus large developers, checking the title's staff list reveals dozens of people were involved; Sandfall hired a team in Korea handling movement and effects, as an instance.

“We will hire slightly more definitely if we have next an upcoming production peak in upcoming years,” the producer stated. “However, I envision essentially a craft studio with a small number of highly skilled individuals that create collective masterpieces.” It was stated that the studio's philosophy as developers “focuses on preserving the key advantages that enabled this success originally.”

While it may be too early for Sandfall to reveal exact details regarding upcoming titles — rest assured, efforts were made — they are certain what’s at its core. “Strategic combat, forms the foundation of our creations,” a developer remarked. “It's a bit too early to specify future passions, yet we must to remain faithful to our creative core with [a] strong narrative universe and engaging mechanics that excites us.”

The lead programmer mentioned that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 originated from the creative director “work[ing] on his dream game. We aspire this approach will be repeated in coming projects.”