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

When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered alongside the launch of the role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many anticipated a fierce competition between the two titles. Contrary to expectations, Kepler Interactive's senior portfolio manager, Matt Handrahan, revealed to The Game Business that not only did Oblivion fail to overshadow Clair Obscur, but it actually enhanced the latter's success by boosting overall excitement for the RPG genre.

To provide some context, RPG enthusiasts were faced with a tough decision: dive into hundreds of hours in Oblivion's Cyrodiil or embark on an expedition to defeat the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The simultaneous launch of these games elicited a mix of joy and frustration among fans, prompting a witty response from Kepler Interactive. On X/Twitter, Kepler shared a modified image of Clair Obscur characters entering an Oblivion Gate, humorously captioned "omg its like barbenheimer," 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 significant supporter of Clair Obscur since its reveal at an Xbox Showcase the previous year, faced criticism for the strategic timing of Oblivion's shadow-drop, especially since both games were available on Game Pass from day one.

However, Handrahan remained unfazed. "We always knew that Expedition 33 had a very specific identity," he explained. "From my time in the press, I observed that Western-style RPGs and Japanese-style RPGs appeal to different audiences. I knew many who would play an Elder Scrolls game but not necessarily a Final Fantasy title, and vice versa.

"By the time of our release, we had built our own momentum and were confident in standing alongside Oblivion. Factors like our pricing strategy and inclusion in Game Pass contributed to the high level of interest in our game. We were confident, and the launch went as well as we could have hoped. In fact, being released close to Oblivion didn't hurt us at all. Instead, it drew more attention to quality RPGs that week, sparking discussions and interest in the genre."

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

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

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

For Clair Obscur enthusiasts, be sure to review our essential tips and information before diving into the game.