Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was one of the most interesting games we saw at last week’s Xbox Developer Direct. Among the things showcased at the event were the game’s massive open world, colourful cast of characters, and a deeper look at the unique twist on turn-based combat that the Clair Obscur has been boasting about.
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We also learned that Sandfall Interactive is aiming for a launch date of April 24, 2025, and will be coming to Game Pass on day one. The game also features a massive star cast, including Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings), Ben Starr (Final Fantasy 16), and Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate 3). However, it seems the last two didn’t have to rest on their laurels for their parts.
Ben Starr And Jennifer English Spoke For Themselves
In the latest episode of the Official Xbox Podcast (thanks, GamesRadar+), Sandfall CEO and creative director Guillaume Broche explained that while Andy Serkis and Charlie Cox came through via their agents, Ben Starr and Jennifer English were added to the cast through blind auditions. You’d think that Clive and Shadowheart would need no introduction, considering how popular their characters have been since 2023.
Broche revealed that auditions were “just for the trailer, for Gustave, and also the voiceover of the trailer, so we received, like, 20 different auditions. But it was blind auditions, so we didn’t know the name of the people who sent the tape.”
“There was one voice that stood out,” he continued, “and I said, ‘okay, this is a really cool voice. Let’s take this guy.’ Later, our quest designer Victor [Deleard], he listened to the tape, and he was like, ‘Isn’t that Clive from Final Fantasy?'” So, in addition to narrating the trailer, Starr will also play Verso in the game.
He continued, saying that something similar happened in the case of English, “We received, like, 25 tapes for [orphaned protagonist Maelle], and I was like, ‘This is the one.’ Later, they just told me, ‘This is Shadowheart.'”
Clive and Shadowheart were undoubtedly among the most beloved video game characters of 2023, so you can bet Broche was pretty excited to learn that they were cast for Clair Obscur, especially since it was solely based on their auditions.
