Key Takeaways
1. Artistic Inspiration: Lies of P inspired Sandfall Interactive to elevate the artistic goals for their game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, due to its unique representation of the Belle Époque era.
2. Market Success: Lies of P launched in 2023 and sold 3 million copies by June 2025, impacting the development of Expedition 33 during its creation.
3. Shared Features: Both games feature similar elements, like a hub setting and phonographs, leading to concerns about originality in their designs.
4. Desire for Boldness: The game director Choi Ji-won expressed a wish for greater ambition in incorporating French architectural styles in Expedition 33, reflecting on missed opportunities to push creative boundaries.
5. Positive Reinforcement: Broche dedicated extensive time to Lies of P, finding satisfaction in its success and art style, which reinforced his team’s direction for their project.
In a recent chat, CEO and director of Sandfall Interactive, Guillaume Broche, shared how Round8 Studios’ Lies of P pushed his team to elevate their artistic goals during the making of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Both games are inspired by the Belle Époque era, drawing from the golden age of French art.
Game Launch and Impact
Lies of P debuted in 2023, offering a soulslike twist on the story of Pinocchio, and it sold a whopping 3 million copies across the globe by June 2025. The launch coincided with the development of Expedition 33. During the discussion, Broche, alongside Lies of P’s game director Choi Ji-won, confessed that the artistic approach of Lies of P was a revelation for him, prompting Sandfall to reassess their work on Expedition 33 to achieve a similar level of finesse.
Artistic Inspirations
In an interview featured on Lies of P’s YouTube channel, Broche remarked, “We shared a similar vision; the Belle Époque is quite unique, and not many games explore it. When I experienced Lies of P, I thought, ‘Wow, this is visually incredible, we need to elevate our own project!’”
What really caught his attention was Hotel Krat. He noted, “We also have a manor in Expedition 33, and when I entered Hotel Krat, I thought, ‘This is precisely what we’re doing in our game!’”
Overlapping Elements
There were also more shared features between the two titles, such as the phonographs found in various locations within the game worlds. Broche reflected on his initial experience with Lies of P, saying:
“When Lies of P launched, our game’s hub was still the manor. We didn’t have the camp yet. Hotel Krat serves as the hub in Lies of P, and we had a record player too. I worried, ‘People will think we copied them!’”
Broche mentioned he dedicated “hundreds of hours” to Lies of P after its release. He expressed satisfaction with the game’s success and the positive reception of its art style, which reinforced his belief that they were on the correct path.
A Call for Greater Boldness
Choi offered his thoughts on Expedition 33’s visual representation of the Belle Époque, expressing a desire that Round8 had been more ambitious in incorporating French architectural styles into their game.
He noted, “I felt we should’ve taken more risks with the architectural and cultural influences of the Belle Époque. Seeing Sandfall’s bold usage of iconic French sites like a ruined Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Place de la Concorde left me with a sense of regret, thinking, ‘We should’ve pushed the envelope further.’”
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