Clair Obscur Devs Pop Round Square Enix: Final Fantasy Collab Brewing?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
The developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 visited Square Enix and Kojima Productions, sparking rumors of potential collaborations with Final Fantasy and Death Stranding 2 - the internet is abuzz with anticipation. Will this lead to exciting crossovers, or is it just a case of industry networking?
Right, so word on the street (thanks to Game Rant) is that the clever clogs over at Sandfall Interactive, the folks behind the surprisingly brilliant *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, have been paying a visit to the hallowed halls of Square Enix. And naturally, the internet's gone wild speculating about a potential team-up between *Clair Obscur* and the behemoth that is *Final Fantasy*.
Now, *Clair Obscur* landing in April 2025 was a bit of a shock, wasn't it? I mean, it’s a proper RPG that manages to blend turn-based strategy with real-time combat and even a dash of *Souls*-like difficulty. That’s like mixing a pint of stout with a shot of tequila and somehow making it taste good. Upon release, everyone and their gran were drawing comparisons to *Final Fantasy*, whispering about whether Square Enix might nick a few ideas for their next big title.
*Clair Obscur*'s success basically kicked the notion that turn-based games are ancient history right in the teeth. It proved that the genre's still got plenty of life left, and that you *can* teach an old dog new tricks. So, this little visit from Sandfall to Square Enix? Yeah, it could be a sign that things are about to get interesting for the genre as a whole.
Apparently, Sandfall's creative director Guillaume Broche, along with producer Francois Meurisse, art director Tom Guillermin, and Kepler's CEO Alexis Garavaryan, all rocked up at Square Enix HQ. They've described the encounter as a "creatively rich exchange of visions and ideas." Now, that's PR speak if I've ever heard it, but still… it does make you wonder. Especially since *Clair Obscur*'s director has previously gushed about how much he loves the *Final Fantasy* and *Tales* franchises, admitting they were big inspirations.
Imagine a *Final Fantasy* game with the polish and innovation of *Clair Obscur*. I reckon that's something worth getting excited about. But before we get too carried away with ourselves, neither studio's actually confirmed anything concrete. So, for now, we're left twiddling our thumbs and wondering what's cooking.
Oh, and get this – Sandfall also popped by Kojima Productions on July 24th! This has predictably sent fans into overdrive hoping for a *Death Stranding 2* crossover. What's Sandfall up to, eh? Your guess is as good as mine. All we know is they're working on new content for *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*. Could this new content feature a collab with other popular franchises? Only time will tell!
So, what do you reckon, mates? Is this the start of a beautiful friendship, or just a bit of networking? I'm cautiously optimistic. A *Final Fantasy* game with some *Clair Obscur* DNA could be something truly special, but until then, I'm keeping my wand (and my expectations) firmly in its holster.
Tags: Clair Obscur, Final Fantasy, Square Enix, Sandfall Interactive, Gaming Collaboration
Original article: Game Rant