Is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Really an Indie Game?

The game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sparked some debate. Some people think it's an indie game. Others disagree. The reason? The game got a lot of help from its publisher. But the developers say they still feel indie at heart.

The Team Behind the Game

The team behind the game is Sandfall. They made the game with a small team. They had a lot of creative freedom. The publisher, Kepler, did not give them orders. This is important. It shows that Sandfall kept control of their creative vision.

The Publisher's Role

Kepler is not a small company. They have released other big games. But they are not as big as triple-A publishers. They have a strong marketing team. This helped Clair Obscur get noticed.

The Indie Debate

The debate about what makes a game indie is tricky. Some games have big budgets. Others have small teams. Some have big publishers. Others are self-published. It's hard to set clear rules.

Awards and Recognition

Sandfall is happy to be compared to other indie games. They are nominated in many categories. This includes Best Independent Game. They are up against games like Blue Prince and Hollow Knight: Silksong. These games have different backgrounds. Some have big teams. Others have just one person.

What Matters Most

Maybe the debate doesn't matter. What matters is that Clair Obscur exists. It's a great game. Sandfall can keep making more games. That's what fans want.