Sandfall Interactive, the developer behind the acclaimed title Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has drawn significant attention this year, sparking discussions about the studio’s size. Early in the year, a debate arose about the studio being “famously small”. This conversation evolved, revealing that Sandfall may not be as small as initially believed, as detailed in various reports.

Despite the discussions surrounding the studio’s size, CEO Guillaume Broche has expressed no desire to expand the team. In remarks shared with Edge (via GamesIndustry), Broche emphasized that his primary focus lies in game development rather than scaling operations.

“I think it’s good to have limitations when you’re creative,” Broche noted. He articulated that although the studio has gained financial resources, expansion is not appealing due to the additional management responsibilities it would entail. “We love making games more than we love managing them, so we want to keep doing that. These past five years have been some of the best of my life, and I want to maintain that happiness,” he added.

When asked about the keys to the success of Expedition 33, which has sold over five million copies and earned a remarkable nine awards at the Game Awards, Broche indicated that the studio’s internal processes were tailored to fit the team rather than the other way around. This adaptation helps create games that resonate with both the developers and the players.

“The best way for me to care about people is to make something that is sincere,” Broche said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong identity in game development. “It just has to have a strong soul and identity,” he concluded.

However, the studio faced scrutiny regarding its development process, specifically regarding the use of generative AI. Following the game’s launch, players noted instances of apparent AI-generated textures, which Sandfall subsequently removed in a patch, labeling them as “placeholder textures.” In an interview, co-founder François Meurisse acknowledged that while some AI was utilized in the development of Expedition 33, it was minimal. Despite this, the Indie Game Awards committee recently rescinded two awards from Sandfall, citing a discrepancy in the studio’s award submission regarding the use of generative AI.