The initial hype has slowed down a bit, but Sandfall’s game is still getting praises, this time from some big names in the gaming industry. Hideo Kojima, one of the most popular game designers out there, says that Clair Obscur recipe for success is a small team and one good boy.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was released not two months ago and has proved to be a strong contender got the Game of the Year. It was the talk of the town, with praises coming left and right, with one of the most praised aspects being the fact that the game was made by a small team. Compared to the big shots, Sandfall Interactive is a pretty small developer studio. And it is exactly what Hideo Kojima thinks was responsible for the success.
Hideo Kojima Says That Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Secret Weapon Is a “Small Team and a Dog”
Recently, Hideo Kojima spoke at an interview in Sidney, in preparation for the release of Death Stranding 2. The folks from Dexerto were there, and they reported that Kojima commented on the general sizes of development teams nowadays, and how he started his own studio with just six people. Now the team is way bigger, and it is harder to manage. He touched on the topic of Sandfall and Clair Obscur, praising them for their success, and commenting that their team size is ideal.
“They only have like 33 team members and a dog. That’s my ideal when I create something with a team.”
We all know that the team has more than 33 members, but it is a widely accepted fact that the core of Sandfall is about 33 people. And the dog in question is Monoco, who was an inspiration (and the namesake) for one of the playable characters in the game.
Kojima continues saying that the modern gaming world has become like a factory, with hundreds and thousands of people involved in a single project. “Big companies, like 600, 1,000 people, they’re full of totally different teams. Everyone’s concentrating on their work and then combining together.”
Regardless of whether they get the GOTY award or not, Sandfall and Clair Obscur will remain a gaming phenomenon of 2025, and proof that you don’t need a huge team to make a masterpiece. Just some dedicated people, and a dog.
