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Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida told Clair Obscur devs to not call it a ‘turn-based RPG’ so people wouldn’t ‘overlook’ it
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida has revealed that he advised the developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 against describing the game as a "turn-based RPG" in its marketing, warning that the label risked putting off potential players who might otherwise "overlook" it. The comment highlights long-standing industry nervousness about turn-based combat being seen as a niche or old-fashioned selling point, even as the genre has enjoyed a resurgence with critically acclaimed titles.
Yoshida, known for championing creative and unconventional projects during his time at PlayStation, made the remarks in relation to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the acclaimed RPG from French studio Sandfall Interactive. The article does not provide further detail on the specific context or timing of his advice, but it underscores the tension developers and publishers face between accurately describing a game's mechanics and using language that broadens its commercial appeal.
In short
- Yoshida told Clair Obscur devs to avoid the "turn-based RPG" label
- He feared the term would cause players to overlook the game
- Highlights industry caution around marketing turn-based combat games
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Strategic marketing communicates genuine appeal rather than allowing outdated preconceptions to limit discovery. Turn-based mechanics have historically carried unfair baggage suggesting they are niche or old-fashioned, even when games employing them are critically acclaimed and broadly enjoyable. Emphasising what makes a game compelling rather than narrower technical classifications does not require dishonesty; it simply ensures players who would genuinely love the experience aren't dissuaded by labels that fail to capture its actual quality.
The case against
Consumers deserve transparent information about how games mechanically function, allowing informed purchasing decisions based on their own preferences rather than marketing judgement. Players who specifically prefer turn-based combat have a legitimate right to identify it easily without creative language obscuring its core mechanics. Avoiding accurate genre descriptors, however well-intentioned, treats players as needing protection from their own preferences rather than trusting them to make choices based on straightforward information about what they are actually buying.
Explained simply
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a role-playing game made by French studio Sandfall Interactive. In role-playing games, players guide characters through a story, build their abilities and face challenges; combat can happen in real time or in turns, with players choosing actions before the next move.
Shuhei Yoshida is a former PlayStation executive known for supporting games from independent studios. His advice reflects a marketing question for game makers: how to describe a game’s combat clearly while reaching people who might dismiss a familiar genre label. Turn-based games have had a long history in role-playing games and have attracted renewed attention in recent years.