Phil Spencer and Naoki Hamaguchi back Clair Obscur
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has emerged as a leading Game of the Year contender after Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and Final Fantasy VII Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi endorsed the role-playing game. Spencer told Famitsu that the Sandfall Interactive debut title ranks as his top pick for 2025, while Hamaguchi praised its balance of world-building, characters, and combat systems in comments to Gamesradar.
The game launched on Game Pass and earned multiple nominations at the Golden Joystick Awards 2025, with winners set to be revealed in one week. Hamaguchi said the title succeeds by combining strong storytelling with refined gameplay mechanics. The success has prompted Final Fantasy fans to request turn-based combat options after Square Enix previously stated that such systems clash with realistic graphics.
A major Hollywood actor has expressed interest in a film adaptation of the game.
