Clair Obscur Fans Are Brewing Up an 'Evil Esquie' Theory That's Wilder Than a Polymorphed Badger
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Fans of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are buzzing with theories that the upcoming free DLC will feature an 'evil' version of the beloved, wine-loving companion Esquie, potentially orchestrated by the mischievous Clea, backed by new artwork and returning voice actors. It’s a delightful concoction of speculation that promises a truly wild ride for the game's next chapter.
Alright, mates, gather 'round, because I’ve been tinkering with the latest buzz from the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 camp, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than a gnome trying to cast a fire spell with a wet sock. Developer Sandfall Interactive recently dropped news of a 'major' free update coming our way, promising new enemies and 'surprises to discover.' Now, 'major update' and 'surprises' are the kind of corporate speak that usually makes my digital wizard senses tingle with gentle skepticism – often it just means a new hat and a slightly different shade of goblin. But fair dinkum, the community has latched onto this with the kind of ferocity usually reserved for finding hidden questlines in an Elder Scrolls game, and they've cooked up a theory that's genuinely intriguing, if a little… unsettling.
See, the folks playing Expedition 33 are convinced that this upcoming DLC isn't just bringing new baddies; it's bringing *the* baddie, and it might just be everyone’s favourite wine-filled, camp-comforting Esquie. You know, the big fluffy giant who's usually the sweetest creature this side of a magical sugar plum fairy? Yeah, *that* Esquie. It sounds like something straight out of a rogue spell casting, doesn't it? Like accidentally turning your familiar into a giant, angry, sentient teacup.
The whole kerfuffle kicked off with the artwork Sandfall released alongside the update announcement, which Austin Manchester at Polygon shrewdly highlighted in his original piece. This image (which you've probably seen floating around) is ostensibly a peek into a young Verso's childhood bedroom, outside the painted canvas world. But the key detail? A sketch in an open notebook showing Verso, sword and dagger drawn, riding on Esquie’s back, charging towards some shrouded, ominous foe. Now, developers don't just pick random art for a major announcement, do they? Especially when that art features a beloved character in such a… combative light. It heavily implies Esquie's got a central role to play, and not just handing out another vintage year of grape juice.
And it's not just a drawing, either. We've got confirmation that Esquie's voice actor, Maxence Cazorla, is back in the recording booth, alongside several other cast members. While returning VAs for new content isn't exactly a groundbreaking revelation, for a character who's mostly a gentle presence, new lines could absolutely mean a new *kind* of presence. Remember Monoco's camp conversation, where he alludes to Esquie being 'the most powerful creature in the world'? Or Esquie’s own slightly unsettling line: 'Bad things happen we get mad'? Suddenly, those bits of lore aren't just flavour text, are they? They're foreshadowing, hanging in the air like a poorly brewed potion – full of potential and unexpected side effects.
The community's certainly picked up on it. I’ve seen Redditors campaigning for an 'Esquie boss fight' with the kind of fervent dedication usually reserved for convincing friends to play a niche indie title. And then there's Sandfall's social media profile picture change: a rather ominous rendering of a character that bears more than a passing resemblance to a shadow-draped, menacing Esquie, complete with glowing red eyes and a spiky collar. Now, okay, the update dropped around Halloween, and they're running a 'Nevron Takeover' event with creepy fan art prompts, so maybe it's just spooky season fun. But when combined with the other clues, it’s hard not to look at those glowing red peepers and think, 'Uh oh, our friendly giant might have skipped his afternoon nap and gone full villain.'
But wait, there's another layer to this magical mishap of a theory! Some clever clogs in the community reckon the 'Evil Esquie' could be something conjured by Clea, Verso and Alicia's sister, back when they were kids. The theory goes that young Clea might have painted this menacing version to scare Verso, and now, after her recent return, she’s weaponized it to hunt expeditions for information about the canvas. It's not a half-bad theory, actually. Clea, bless her mischievous heart, has a bit of a history of meddling with the canvas – painting over and distorting her in-canvas self, and even manipulating Simon, who provided one of the game's toughest boss fights. If anyone's going to accidentally (or purposefully) unleash a corrupted version of a beloved giant, it's Clea.
And here’s where the Cleverly Observant Jeff really perks up: Clea's voice actor, Devora Wilde, is also returning to record new lines. This is a bigger deal than it might sound, because Clea didn't actually have a massive on-screen presence in the game and mostly spoke from outside the canvas. So, for her VA to be back in the booth? That screams 'more active role' to me, like a wizard unexpectedly finding new incantations in an old spellbook. It lends a surprising amount of weight to the idea that Clea is once again pulling the strings, perhaps even accidentally creating a 'Whooo' Esquie-sized problem for our heroes.
Now, I’ll admit, sometimes when we dive this deep into fan theories, we might be wearing our tinfoil hats a bit too tight. Maybe the profile pic *is* just a spooky season gag, and Esquie will remain his usual benevolent, wine-loving self. But the convergence of the new artwork, the returning voice actors (especially Clea's!), and Esquie's own whispered lore makes for a compelling concoction. It’s the kind of unexpected narrative twist that makes gaming so darn exciting, turning beloved companions into potential adversaries – a true test of friendship, or maybe just a really big boss fight. Either way, my curiosity is officially piqued, and I can't wait to see if these theories turn out to be prophetic, or just another charmingly chaotic moment in the ongoing saga of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Original article by Austin Manchester for Polygon: [
Tags: ClairObscur, Expedition33, FanTheory, GamingNews, DLC
Original article: Polygon