Shuhei Yoshida told Expedition 33 studio to avoid terms like 'turn-based RPG' because it may cause people to "overlook" the game
One of the reasons Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stood out so much in early footage was how action-packed its combat looked, despite being a turn-based RPG. But while developer Sandfall Interactive has described the game as a turn-based RPG - and reinvigorated the genre, to some degree - not everyone was happy with that approach. Read more
Shuhei Yoshida, a veteran PlayStation executive and former producer, cautioned Expedition 33 developers against labeling their game as a turn-based RPG. At the Busan Indie Connect Festival 2026, Yoshida praised the game's combat, drawing a comparison to his own production of The Legend of Dragoon. However, he believed that the term "turn-based RPG" was outdated and could lead players to dismiss the game.
Despite his concerns, Expedition 33's publisher, Kepler Interactive, adopted the more contemporary "reactive turn-based battles" description for the game's combat. This term proved to be the perfect fit, as Expedition 33 sold over 3.3 million copies within its first month and received multiple awards and accolades, including a spot at number two on Eurogamer's 50 best games of 2025 list.
Written by urgent.news from Eurogamer's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
