When Bethesda stealth-launched The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered alongside the debut of fellow RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many assumed only one title would prevail. However, the publisher of Clair Obscur claims that not only did Oblivion fail to hurt their game, its release actually generated more enthusiasm for the RPG genre, ultimately benefiting Clair Obscur.
This perspective comes from Kepler Interactive’s senior portfolio manager, Matt Handrahan, who detailed to The Game Business how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 achieved a successful launch against the odds.
For context, RPG fans were initially forced to choose between immersing themselves for hundreds of hours in Oblivion’s Cyrodiil or embarking on an expedition to defeat the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The two games releasing in the same week sparked a mix of excitement and frustration among the RPG community, as well as a playful comment from Kepler Interactive itself.
In a post on X/Twitter, Kepler shared a doctored image of Clair Obscur’s characters stepping through an Oblivion Gate, captioned "omg its like barbenheimer"—a humorous reference to the simultaneous theatrical release of the films 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 heavily promoted Clair Obscur since its reveal at an Xbox Showcase the previous year, also faced criticism for stealth-dropping Oblivion on the same day. Both games were available on Game Pass from day one.
According to Handrahan, however, there was no cause for concern. “We were always aware that Expedition 33 had a distinct identity,” Handrahan stated. “From my time in the press, I viewed Western-style RPGs and Japanese-style RPGs as having different appeals and audiences. I knew many people who play Elder Scrolls games who wouldn't necessarily play Final Fantasy, and vice versa.
“By the time our launch arrived, we had built our own momentum and felt confident we could stand alongside it. Other factors, like our pricing and inclusion in Game Pass, ensured we'd attract significant interest. We were confident in that. The launch went as well as we could have hoped. In fact, being near Oblivion's release didn't seem to hurt us at all. In many ways, I believe it simply drew more attention to high-quality RPGs that week, getting everyone talking about the genre.”
Clair Obscur has proven to be a major success for Kepler and its French developer, Sandfall Interactive, selling over one million copies in just three days and achieving impressive concurrent player numbers on Steam. Its performance was so strong that French President Macron publicly commended the development team.
Bethesda has announced that Oblivion Remastered has attracted over four million players since launch, though specific sales figures have not been shared. It also recorded high concurrent player counts on Steam.
The Game Business cited data from Ampere Analysis showing that 35% of Clair Obscur players also tried Oblivion Remastered, indicating significant audience crossover. Much of this is attributed to both titles launching on Game Pass, with the overlap percentage being lower among Steam and PlayStation 5 players.
For more on Oblivion Remastered, check out our report on an adventurous player who broke free from Cyrodiil’s borders to explore Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell—the rumored setting for The Elder Scrolls VI.
We also offer a complete guide covering everything in Oblivion Remastered, including a detailed Interactive Map, full Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and all Guild Quests, a guide on How to Build the Perfect Character, a list of Things to Do First, every available PC Cheat Code, and much more.
If you're playing Clair Obscur, don’t miss our article on key tips to know before starting your adventure.
