Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Sales Dip in One Region Despite Strong Launch

Originally posted on Total Apex Gaming | By Khris Brayton | Last updated May 14, 2025 11:59 PM ET

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 has been an absolute juggernaut since its release on April 24. The game has not just sold like wildfire, but has received rave reviews and ratings that have it in conversations for game of the year. It is not just inflated hype, either; the game truly is a master piece that has helped the gaming industry realize how turn-based RPG combat can succeed in the modern era. Add in a brilliantly executed storyline. Despite major explosions in sales, though, there is one region where it appears the game is actually struggling.

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Sales Dip In Region Expected To Sell Most

Image of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Soundtrack courtesy of Sandfall Interactive

There is no denying that Clair Obscur Expedition 33 has been a massive success. Despite competing against some major AAA games like Assassin’s Creed: Shadows and Oblivion Remastered, the turn-based RPG hit over 2 million copies sold in the first two weeks of launch. It is not just sales that have benefited from trends, either, as the game also holds the highest ratings of any game this year on both Metacritic and OpenCritic. It has been an absolute hit in the Western markets and has thrived on Xbox Game Pass as well.

The region that Clair Obscur Expedition 33 has struggled most in, however, is Japan. Despite a root in JRPG influences, the game sold just 9,825 units in Japan by May 4. There could be some factors contributing to this, as Game Rant shares.

“For one, the data does not count digital sales, so gamers who acquired Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 via Steam will not appear in this statistic, and it’s unknown if developer Sandfall Interactive and publisher Kepler Interactive sent out many physical copies of the game to Japan. Physical units of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are already scarce in the West, so the same could be happening in Japan, and this may be negatively affecting sales. In any case, it’s not entirely expected to see a game with such strong Japanese inspirations selling so poorly in the region.

Despite the high reception, it appears Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is not quite latching on in Japan. Others in the industry are even talking positively though, including direct competitors, so the development team should not feel too disappointed by low Japan sales numbers. The game has a bright future ahead, and though there are no DLC expansions planned, the game does continue to get updates to improve the user experience.

Final Thoughts

Japan is typically a massive market for RPGs, especially JRPGs and turn-based games. Japan saw to the growth of the Yakuza/Like A Dragon series, the Persona series, Atlus and Sega games, and also for the continued success of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and other major JRPGs. To see Clair Obscur Expedition 33 struggle in the very market that carries the genre is surprising. That said, many factors play a role, and given the game’s overall success, I doubt the developers are sweating too much about the situation. Hopefully, with more hype, Japan will also join in on the fun.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Gaming and was syndicated with permission.

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