When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered during the launch week of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many believed that Oblivion would overshadow its fellow RPG. However, Kepler Interactive, the publisher of Clair Obscur, reported that not only did Oblivion not negatively impact Clair Obscur, but it actually enhanced the excitement for the RPG genre, benefiting Clair Obscur in the process.

Matt Handrahan, senior portfolio manager at Kepler Interactive, shared insights with The Game Business on how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 thrived despite the competition. RPG enthusiasts were initially torn between diving into the vast world of Cyrodiil in Oblivion or embarking on a thrilling expedition in Clair Obscur to defeat the Paintress. The simultaneous launch of these games sparked a mix of excitement and frustration among fans, prompting a witty response from Kepler Interactive.

On social media, Kepler posted an image of Clair Obscur characters entering an Oblivion Gate, captioned "omg its like barbenheimer," playfully 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 major supporter of Clair Obscur since its showcase at an Xbox event, faced criticism for the shadow-drop of Oblivion, especially since both titles were available on Game Pass from day one.

Handrahan explained that Clair Obscur had a distinct identity that appealed to a different audience than Oblivion. He noted the difference in appeal between Western and Japanese-style RPGs, suggesting that fans of one genre might not necessarily be drawn to the other. He also emphasized that Clair Obscur had built its own momentum and was confident in its market position due to its price point and inclusion in Game Pass.

"We always knew that Expedition 33 had a very specific identity," Handrahan said. "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 that we rolled around, we had momentum of our own and we felt pretty confident that we could stand beside it. I think there were other aspects, like the price point we were at and the inclusion in Game Pass… so we knew we would have a lot of interest around the game. We were confident in that. And it went as well as it possibly could have done in our eyes. And, actually, 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."

Clair Obscur has proven to be a major success for Kepler and its French developer, Sandfall Interactive, selling over 1 million copies in just three days and achieving impressive concurrent player counts on Steam. The game's success has even earned praise from French President Macron.

Bethesda reported that Oblivion Remastered has attracted over 4 million players since its launch, though specific sales figures have not been disclosed. It, too, has seen significant concurrent player numbers on Steam.

Data from Ampere, cited by The Game Business, indicates that 35% of Clair Obscur players also played Oblivion Remastered, highlighting a notable overlap. This overlap is largely attributed to both games being available on Game Pass, with the percentage decreasing for players on Steam and PlayStation 5.

We also offer a comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered, featuring an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and all Guild Quests, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and a list of PC Cheat Codes, among other resources.

For those interested in Clair Obscur, don't miss our essential tips and insights to prepare you for your expedition into the game.