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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs are working on a Nintendo Switch 2 version, but note the “big technical challenge” of getting it up and running
Sandfall Interactive, the small French studio behind hit RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has confirmed it is exploring a Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game, but warned that adapting it will be a significant technical undertaking. In an interview with Automaton, the developers explained that the console's more limited power compared with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, combined with the Unreal Engine 5 features that don't yet work on Switch 2, make a straightforward port impractical for now. This matters because fans have been eager for the acclaimed turn-based RPG to reach Nintendo's console since its launch, but the studio is being cautious about committing to a timeline given its small size.
Chief technical officer Tom Guillermin said the team wanted the game to look "beautiful", which clashes with the Switch 2's more modest hardware, while lead character artist Alan Reynaud noted that Unreal Engine features like Lumen Lite could eventually help but are still rolling out. CEO Guillaume Broche said the studio is "interested in looking for a way to do it" but that it's too early to announce anything concrete. The caution is notable given the game's success: created by a team of around 30 people with outsourced support, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sold a million copies within three days of release.
In short
- Sandfall Interactive is exploring a Switch 2 port of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Weaker hardware and unsupported Unreal Engine 5 features pose big challenges
- No release timeline given; small studio is proceeding cautiously
Explained simply
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based role-playing game that achieved notable commercial success, selling a million copies within three days of its launch. The game was developed by Sandfall Interactive, a small French studio of around 30 people supported by outsourced teams.
Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 console will be more powerful than the current Switch but less capable than the latest PlayStation and Xbox machines. Fans of Clair Obscur have requested the game come to Nintendo's console, as is common for successful multi-platform titles.
Adapting games from more powerful systems to less capable hardware typically requires significant compromises on graphics and features to make them playable. This challenge is compounded when the game uses software tools that have not yet been adapted for the target platform, which is the case with some Unreal Engine 5 features used in Clair Obscur.