AAA Dev Bloat: Former Ubisoft Director Says ‘Clair Obscur’ Would’ve Taken 25 Years

The spiraling costs and bloated development processes of AAA game development are increasingly concerning. Former Ubisoft creative director Guillaume Broche, now head of Sandfall Interactive, claims making his game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, would have been impossible within Ubisoft's bureaucratic structure.

Broche stated it would've taken "25 years" to get approval for a new IP like Clair Obscur at a larger company. This highlights the red tape and lack of creative freedom within AAA studios.

"Projects like these – with new IPs, original stories, completely original characters – are super hard to push through in a big company," Broche explained. "There are a lot of approval steps... For me, a project like this would've taken 25 years to make in a big company. And I don't have that much patience."

Broche's departure from Ubisoft was fueled by boredom and frustration with the lack of creative freedom. He held key positions on major franchises like *Ghost Recon Breakpoint* and *The Division 2*, yet felt stifled. This mirrors the industry-wide struggle where even successful franchises, like Assassin's Creed, suffer from repetitive sequels and a lack of innovation.

The problem, however, isn't unique to Ubisoft. Many AAA studios focus on microtransactions and season passes instead of addressing the core issue: a lack of fresh ideas. The industry risks a 1983-style crash if it continues down this path, with indie studios being the only survivors.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by a core team of just 34, defies this trend. It has been praised for its storytelling, unique art style, and robust turn-based battle system. The game also features voice acting from stars like Charlie Cox and Andy Serkis.

Adding to the game's uniqueness, lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, previously a private equity investor, penned the story for the game. She landed the gig after answering a Reddit post and submitting voice auditions.

Set in an alternate version of Paris where a mysterious figure kills everyone of a certain age each year, players embark on an “expedition” to stop the death cycle. The game has nods to Japanese RPGs, manga, and anime - all cultural artifcats deeply embraced in France. French President Emmanuel Macron even praised the game.

One of the more unusual things: the game sold 2 million copies in just 2 weeks. Macron even celebrated the game!

The game’s combat is inspired by Final Fantasy and the Souls series with elegant and challenging turn-based combat. The game also has an emotionally powerful story.

Will AAA developers heed the warnings and embrace innovation, or will they continue to rely on tired formulas and risk obsolescence? What steps can the gaming industry take to foster more creativity and avoid a potential crash?

Share your thoughts in the comments below! What is your opinion on AAA development?

• AAA
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Ubisoft

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Is Clair Obscur Expedition 33 on Game Pass?

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