Expedition 33's Lead Writer: A Childhood of Books, Not Video Games, Fueled RPG's Success

The Unconventional Path to RPG Success: Expedition 33's Lead Writer Never Played Video Games

In a revelation that has sent ripples through the gaming community, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, the lead writer for the highly acclaimed RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has confessed to never having played a video game before embarking on this ambitious project. This surprising admission stems from her upbringing in a strict Chinese household, where video games were considered an extravagance rather than a pastime. Instead of digital worlds, her formative years were filled with the tactile experience of tabletop games, most notably Dungeons & Dragons.

While she may not have spent decades in a single campaign, Svedberg-Yen's unique background has proven to be an unexpected boon, offering a fresh perspective that significantly shaped the narrative of Expedition 33. "I have to admit, I hadn’t played any video games before this because I grew up in a very strict Chinese family, and I’m the oldest one. Video games were very expensive at the time, so I had no access to them. I went to the library and read books," she shared in a candid interview.

Bridging the Digital Divide: From Books to Platinum Trophies

Upon joining the development team, Svedberg-Yen committed to immersing herself in the medium she was now crafting for. Partnering with her husband, she embarked on a gaming journey, acquiring two televisions and two PlayStations to experience titles firsthand. This dedication has transformed her into a formidable gamer, boasting an impressive collection of platinum trophies from challenging games like Elden Ring and both God of War installments. "I’m a trophy hunter, I’ve gotten platinum on Elden Ring, God of War, God of War, God of War: Ragnarok. I guess you could say I play quite a lot of games lately," she added with a smile.

Her extensive reading habit, it turns out, was not just a childhood pastime but a crucial asset. Collaborating with director Guillaume Broche, a self-proclaimed Final Fantasy aficionado, Svedberg-Yen artfully blended game-inspired ideas with influences drawn from literary titans such as Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time and the fantasy works of Brandon Sanderson. This fusion of the familiar and the novel resulted in a narrative rich with depth and imagination.

A Studio Built on Passion and Surprise Success

The development of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Studio is a testament to the power of raw talent and unconventional hiring. With a team largely new to game development, guided by former Ubisoft talent, the studio discovered gems like composer Laurian Testerd from SoundCloud comments and voice actors who were initially unaware of the game's scope. One voice actor, profoundly moved by the game's compelling narrative, expressed a desire to purchase a console to personally experience the dramatic journey he had contributed to.

The studio's astonishment at the game's meteoric rise, earning a remarkable 93/100 on Metacritic and becoming the second-highest-rated game of 2025, underscores their unexpected triumph. The magic of numbers has continued to follow Expedition 33, with over 3.3 million copies sold within its first 33 days. This overwhelming success has ignited the studio's ambition to expand the Clair Obscur universe, evidenced by the recent announcement of a free expansion and Ukrainian localization, celebrating a milestone of 5 million copies sold in just five months.

“I went to the library and read books.”

This narrative underscores a broader theme within Sandfall: a belief that compelling storytelling and innovative design can transcend traditional gaming experience, proving that a passion for narrative and a willingness to learn can forge incredible results in the ever-evolving landscape of interactive entertainment.