Shuhei Yoshida Told Expedition 33 Studio to Avoid Terms Like 'Turn-Based RPG' because It May Cause People to "Overlook" the Game
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Shuhei Yoshida told Expedition 33 studio to avoid terms like 'turn-based RPG' because it may cause people to "overlook" the game
One of the reasons Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stood out so much in early footage was how action-packed its combat looked, despite being a turn-based RPG. But while developer Sandfall Interactive has described the game as a turn-based RPG - and reinvigorated the genre, to some degree - not everyone was happy with that approach.
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida told Clair Obscur devs to not call it a 'turn-based RPG' so people wouldn't 'overlook' it
According to former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida, turn-based RPGs, particularly JRPGs, were so unpopular several years ago that he would tell indie developers to avoid using the term altogether in their marketing—even for a game like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.Yoshida recalled giving the Clair Obscur developers this advice during a lecture at the Busan Indie Connect Festival 2026 (via Automaton). He was impressed by a demo he played a couple…
Former PlayStation boss told Clair Obscur devs to avoid "turn-based RPG" label, and now they're back in fashion
Last Updated on August 18, 2026 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 could have been marketed very differently if it were not for some advice from former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida. Before the game’s release, Yoshida told developer Sandfall Interactive that calling it a “turn-based RPG” could cause some players to overlook it. Yoshida shared the story ...
Shuhei Yoshida Says He Advised Expedition 33 Devs Not to Market It as a “Turn-Based RPG” Because of JRPG Stigma at the time
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 could have been marketed very differently if Shuhei Yoshida had not warned its developers about the perception surrounding turn-based RPGs. During a lecture for indie developers at Busan Indie Connect Festival 2026, the former PlayStation executive recalled advising Sandfall Interactive against prominently describing the game as a turn-based RPG. Yoshida shared the story while discussing how developers should present …
Although praised today for its turn-based RPG approach, Sandfall Interactive was advised by the former PlayStation boss against selling Clair Obscur Expedition 33 as such.
Clair Obscur Expedition 33: "Simply Overlooked" – That's Why Yoshida Warned Against the Term Lap RPG
The fact that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was already so strong in the first image material was due not least to the extremely action-packed fights – and that for a turn-based role-playing game. Developer Sandfall Interactive described the title as a lap RPG and thus helped the genre to a certain new splendor. However, this designation did not meet with enthusiasm everywhere in the run-up. more
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