Sandfall Interactive‘s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has experienced a significant resurgence this month, following its recognition as Game of the Year at the recent Game Awards. The title, already a top performer in 2025, has seen its popularity surge even further due to the accolade.
Data from Alinea Analytics indicates that sales for Expedition 33 increased by 21% on PlayStation 5 and an impressive 76% on Steam. The increase was notably less pronounced on Xbox, where sales rose by only 3%. This modest growth is likely attributed to the game being available on Game Pass. Overall, the game has reportedly sold over 200,000 additional copies across PC and consoles since the award ceremony.
In a strategic move, Sandfall released new downloadable content (DLC) for Expedition 33 shortly after winning its final award at the Game Awards. This timing appears to have contributed to a notable uptick in player engagement, with the game reaching a peak of 56,993 concurrent players on Steam over the weekend, marking its highest player count since June.
Mat Piscatella, senior director at Circana, shared insights on Bluesky, noting that the engagement rate among active users on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam players in the U.S. had more than tripled by December 13 compared to December 10. Among these platforms, Steam saw the most significant increase. On December 13, daily active users ranked 13th on Steam, 30th on PlayStation, and 33rd on Xbox in the U.S.
Piscatella clarified that “engagement” refers to any player who started the game, whether they browsed the menu or played extensively. This metric underscores the growing interest in Expedition 33, as even brief interactions contribute to the data.
The game’s remarkable performance at the Game Awards is underscored by its historic achievement of winning nine out of the thirteen categories in which it was nominated. Such accolades have garnered attention beyond the gaming community, with French President Emmanuel Macron publicly congratulating Sandfall for their success. GameSpot has also recognized Expedition 33 as their pick for Game of the Year in 2025.
In summary, the combination of award recognition, new content, and a strategic release has not only rejuvenated interest in Expedition 33 but has also highlighted Sandfall Interactive’s position in the gaming landscape. As more players engage with the game, the developers’ efforts to maintain momentum may yield further growth in both player base and sales, suggesting a promising future for this celebrated title.
