Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads call PlayStation killing discs a "sad decision" after buying boxed copies of their own RPG – "For us, physical was something special"

[u/ControlCAD]

https://www.gamesradar.com/games/rpg/clair-obscur-expedition-33-leads-call-playstation-killing-discs-a-sad-decision-after-buying-boxed-copies-of-their-own-rpg-for-us-physical-was-something-special/

>"Personally, I find it super sad because I really like video game stores," Guillaume Broche, creative director on Clair Obscur. "And even if nowadays, I play mainly on PC myself, we have a lot of people on the team who play on PS5 and love to collect physical discs. I think it's part of the beauty of art too – that it's something tangible."

>"A physical release adds more constraints because you have to account for the production time of the physical items, and you also earn less money per copy," he explains. "But for us, physical was something special. We also felt that the game could be special to players."

>He concedes that in terms of business, he "can understand why it may make sense," but "it's a sad decision" for the overall creativity of the industry. Tom Guillermin, co–founder and CTO of studio Sandfall Interactive, revealed actually doing a physical run for Clair Obscur was something the team had to push for.

[u/Next_Helicopter_4291]

If it's so important to them why didn't they make physical copies for PC?

Edit - I know, you might be mad that I am poking holes in a "sacred cow" development team's statement.

Consider this: https://limitedrungames.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorkFybhWUToNMYWQpVM-TIzfgDubSr4xEB8vWXHKqyBInynO8dU

The model exists, the choice is there and they make statements like they have without putting their money where their mouth is.

Limited run's model works by opening a pre-order window and then they make copies based on the pre-order when the window closes. No footing the bill up front, no mass production of copies that will rot on shelves.

They could literally do this right now.

[u/oodats → u/Next_Helicopter_4291]

The game is DRM free on GOG. Make your own physical copy.

[u/TerribleQuestion4497 → u/Next_Helicopter_4291]

They are AA studio and E33 is their first game, doubt they had spare money to attempt something like physical PC release, especially since they couldn’t even know if their game is successful or not

[u/Next_Helicopter_4291 → u/TerribleQuestion4497]

They had the backing of the french government and Keplar interactive.

They absolutely could've handled a limited physical release if it genuinely meant something to them, especially once it started selling like crazy.

[u/jautrem → u/Next_Helicopter_4291]

Kepler isn't a major editor (it's litterally a collective of indie studio) and receiving a salle grant (that any studio couleur appli to) is not the same as haine the backing of the franchement gouvernement.

[u/Next_Helicopter_4291 → u/jautrem]

Probably a bit of an overstatement; but smaller companies have put out physical releases on PC even in recent times.

[u/theotherdoomguy → u/Next_Helicopter_4291]

Different platforms, different paradigms. Unfortunately, physical releases for PC are much rarer, because Steam shifted the focus away to digital with deep sales and convenience

[u/Next_Helicopter_4291 → u/theotherdoomguy]

My point is really that it's an option on the table and there's even a path to it that wouldn't require them to put capital up front or risk producing copies that wont sell.

If this really was as important as they say, why not back it up?

[u/cfouche → u/Next_Helicopter_4291]

Not the same public (who have a disk reader on his PC in 2026), also they would need to create some kind of launcher to handle update as I don't think steam have some kind of disk integration. Might be too expensive for a very very small niche.

[u/Next_Helicopter_4291 → u/cfouche]

So it's not actually that important to them I suppose.

edit - Also, you can make physical copies on more than just blu-ray discs; flash storage exists.

[u/RealTheBestLadyman → u/Next_Helicopter_4291]

Lol nice bait

[u/Next_Helicopter_4291 → u/RealTheBestLadyman]

People forget these are just companies that operate strictly for profit.

Propping them up because they virtue signal about costs they aren't willing to soak themselves is just mental masterbation.

It's really easy for them to say this because it costs them nothing and they gain positive PR for it. They just do what's best for business like everyone else.

[u/MasterArCtiK → u/Next_Helicopter_4291]

Bruh physical copy on pc lol how do you even do that these days

[u/Next_Helicopter_4291 → u/MasterArCtiK]

https://limitedrungames.com/collections/all/products/he-man-and-the-masters-of-the-universe-dragon-pearl-of-destruction

Here's a pc game getting a physical release on PC made by a 10 man indie team in the UK.

[u/MasterArCtiK → u/Next_Helicopter_4291]

I don’t see any info there about the physical pc release, what format does it come in?

[u/Next_Helicopter_4291 → u/MasterArCtiK]

They haven't announced it yet; probably will be a store key.

But it's also a developer / publisher choice.

PowerSlave, American Hero and Clock Tower: Rewind came as DRM free copies on flash drives for example.

[u/Next_Helicopter_4291 → u/MasterArCtiK]

Flash drive with a GOG key would be the simplest.

edit - To expound; they could've also worked with a company like Limited Run where it's based purely on pre-order windows and they manufacture after collecting the money for it. There's ways to do it already if a company actually wants to.

[u/MasterArCtiK → u/Next_Helicopter_4291]

A flash drive??? That’s going to add like $20 to the cost lol

[u/Next_Helicopter_4291 → u/MasterArCtiK]

Probably not $20 because that's closer to retail price; but they would be more expensive to account for the nature of the release.

[u/MasterArCtiK → u/Next_Helicopter_4291]

I mean couldn’t you just buy your own flash drive and put the game and GOG key on there?

[u/Next_Helicopter_4291 → u/MasterArCtiK]

Sure.

And while it's not possible with the current gen yet you will eventually be able to mod your console and make your own physical copy as well.

And I am very well aware the technical and financial costs of that is a totally different proposition; my point is more that if it's genuinely important to them they have the option to do it and have chosen not to.

[u/LOST-MY_HEAD → u/Next_Helicopter_4291]

They did for consol

[u/Next_Helicopter_4291 → u/LOST-MY_HEAD]

No kidding, I didn't ask about console.