When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered around the same time as the launch of another RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many assumed there could only be one standout. However, according to the publisher of Clair Obscur, not only did Oblivion fail to hurt its counterpart—Clair Obscur actually benefited from the renewed interest in RPGs sparked by Oblivion’s arrival.
This insight comes from Matt Handrahan, senior portfolio manager at Kepler Interactive, who detailed to The Game Business how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 achieved a successful launch despite the circumstances.
For context, RPG enthusiasts faced a tough decision: dive into hundreds of hours exploring Cyrodiil in Oblivion, or set off on a quest to defeat the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The simultaneous release of both titles prompted a mix of excitement and frustration among fans, as well as a lighthearted post from Kepler Interactive.
On X/Twitter, Kepler shared a modified image showing Clair Obscur characters stepping through an Oblivion Gate, captioned "omg its like barbenheimer"—a playful reference to the joint theatrical debut of Barbie and Oppenheimer on the same day in 2023.
omg its like barbenheimer pic.twitter.com/TN1AFzdggc
— Kepler Interactive (@Kepler_Interact) April 22, 2025
Microsoft, which owns Bethesda and had strongly supported Clair Obscur since its reveal at an Xbox Showcase, also faced criticism for stealth-releasing Oblivion alongside Clair Obscur—both games being available on Game Pass from day one.
But Handrahan insists there was no cause for alarm. “We always knew Expedition 33 had its own unique identity,” he explained. “Back in my press days, I saw Western-style and Japanese-style RPGs as appealing to different audiences. Many Elder Scrolls fans wouldn’t necessarily play Final Fantasy, and the reverse is true.
“By the time we launched, we had built our own momentum and felt sure we could stand alongside Oblivion. Other factors like our price point and Game Pass inclusion also helped—we knew the game would attract plenty of interest. We were confident in its appeal, and from our perspective, the launch went as smoothly as possible. In fact, being close to Oblivion’s release didn't hurt us at all. If anything, it brought more attention to high-quality RPGs that week and got everyone discussing the genre.”
Clair Obscur has turned into a major success for Kepler and its French studio, Sandfall Interactive, selling over one million copies in just three days and drawing impressive concurrent player counts on Steam. Its performance even earned praise from French President Macron.
Bethesda confirmed that Oblivion Remastered attracted more than four million players after launch, though exact sales numbers weren’t released. It also maintained strong concurrent player figures on Steam.
The Game Business cited Ampere data indicating that 35% of Clair Obscur players also tried Oblivion Remastered, pointing to a notable overlap. Much of this can be attributed to both titles launching on Game Pass, with the overlap percentage lower among Steam and PlayStation 5 players.
For more on Oblivion Remastered, check out our coverage—including a story about one player who breached the borders of Cyrodiil to explore Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell, the speculated setting for The Elder Scrolls VI.
We also offer a complete guide to everything in Oblivion Remastered, featuring a detailed Interactive Map, full Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and all the Guild Quests, How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and much more.
As for Clair Obscur, make sure to read our essential tips before you start playing.
