The captivating rise of “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” has taken the gaming world by storm, earning French studio Sandfall Interactive unexpected acclaim. Despite the game’s incredible success, with 3.3 million units sold just a month after its April release, the studio has no intention of expanding its modest team.
In an insightful chat with Automation, Tom Guillermin, the Chief Technology Officer and Lead Programmer, shared his thoughts on their success. “For a project like a full-price turn-based RPG, our current team size feels just right. I prefer working with a smaller group,” he noted.
Guillaume Broche, CEO and Creative Director, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that efficiency thrives in a streamlined setup. “We had a nimble setup: five on environments, two for the story, and a handful managing cinematics. Music was crafted by four talented individuals,” Broche explained. Although the core team consisted of 30 to 40 members, they smartly outsourced roles like QA, marketing, and localization to external partners. This hybrid model allowed Sandfall to deliver a critically acclaimed game, even garnering praise from industry giants like Hideo Kojima.
Broche attributed their triumph to a meticulous hiring process, focusing on talent over experience. “We conducted over 200 interviews to assemble our initial team,” he revealed. Interestingly, some team members, like a VFX artist and character designer, were fresh out of college, while their exceptional soundtrack composer, Lorien Testard, was discovered on SoundCloud.
The studio’s unique work culture thrives on innovation, given that many team members lacked preconceived notions of traditional work norms. This adaptability has been key to their success.
In an industry dominated by massive budgets and sprawling teams, Sandfall Interactive’s achievement proves that vision and passion can disrupt the status quo. Their impressive journey shows how a small, dedicated team can make a significant impact in the gaming world.
