When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered during the launch of the role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many expected a fierce competition. However, Kepler Interactive, the publisher of Clair Obscur, asserts that not only did Oblivion not detract from their game's success, but it actually enhanced the excitement for RPGs as a whole.

Kepler Interactive's senior portfolio manager, Matt Handrahan, spoke to The Game Business about how Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 thrived against the odds. RPG enthusiasts faced a tough decision: dive into hundreds of hours in Oblivion's Cyrodiil or embark on an expedition to confront the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The simultaneous launch of these games sparked a mix of excitement and frustration among fans, prompting a witty response from Kepler Interactive on social media.

In a playful X/Twitter post, Kepler shared an image of Clair Obscur characters entering an Oblivion Gate, captioned "omg its like barbenheimer," humorously referencing the concurrent release of the films Barbie and Oppenheimer in 2023.

omg its like barbenheimer pic.twitter.com/TN1AFzdggc

— Kepler Interactive (@Kepler_Interact) April 22, 2025

Microsoft, the owner of Bethesda and a major supporter of Clair Obscur since its reveal at an Xbox Showcase, faced criticism for the shadow-drop of Oblivion alongside Clair Obscur, both of which were available on Game Pass from day one.

Handrahan, however, remained unfazed. "We always knew that Expedition 33 had a very specific identity," he explained. "When I was in the press, I saw the Western-style RPG and the Japanese-style RPG as having quite different appeals and audiences. I knew plenty of people that would play an Elder Scrolls game that wouldn't necessarily play Final Fantasy and vice versa.

"By the time we launched, we had our own momentum and felt confident we could stand beside Oblivion. Factors like our pricing and inclusion in Game Pass ensured we'd capture a lot of interest. We were confident, and the launch went as well as we could have hoped. In fact, being close to Oblivion's release didn't harm us at all. Instead, it drew more attention to quality RPGs that week, sparking conversations and interest in the genre."

Bethesda reported that Oblivion Remastered has attracted over 4 million players since its launch, though specific sales figures remain undisclosed. It, too, has seen significant concurrent player numbers on Steam.

According to data from Ampere cited by The Game Business, 35% of Clair Obscur players also played Oblivion Remastered, indicating a notable overlap. This overlap is largely attributed to both games being available on Game Pass, with the percentage decreasing among Steam and PlayStation 5 players.

We also offer a comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered, featuring an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and much more.

For Clair Obscur, don't miss our tips on the essential things to know before diving into the game.