Within its first three days, Clair Obscur sold 1 million copies. By today, May 27, that figure has reached to 3.3 million across platforms, and that’s not even counting the additional players diving in through Xbox and PC Game Pass. For a brand-new IP crafted by a core team of just 30 people, some of whom were actually new to game development, this is nothing short of phenomenal. Published by Kepler Interactive, a London-based company known for backing bold, creative titles like Pacific Drive, Sifu, and the upcoming Rematch, Clair Obscur truly stands as a testament to what happens when vision and passion collide.

The game boasts an incredible 9.7 user score on Metacritic and a 92 Metascore on consoles, putting it right up there among the elite in its genre. Then there’s the music. Composed by Lorien Testard, the game’s soundtrack has become a phenomenon in its own right. It actually debuted at the top of Billboard’s classical album charts, racking up 33 million streams in its first three weeks and surpassing 90 million by today.

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Founded in 2018 by Mathieu Girard, Tactical Adventures quickly made a name for itself with the release of Solasta: Crown of the Magister in 2021. The game was praised for its deep tactical gameplay, faithful adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules, and immersive storytelling. The studio recently unveiled Solasta II during The Game Awards in December.

Girard, CEO of Tactical Adventures, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that Kepler’s values align closely with those of his studio. He emphasized that this collaboration will help amplify the launch of Solasta II while allowing Tactical Adventures to maintain its production and editorial independence.

Alexis Garavaryan, CEO of Kepler Interactive, welcomed Tactical Adventures into the collective, praising the studio’s commitment to authenticity and its ability to create a standout tactical RPG that resonated deeply with its community. He highlighted the importance of aligning values and elevating the entire group, ensuring that Tactical Adventures’ unique perspective and expertise will contribute to Kepler’s mission.

Solasta II is currently in development for PC and is expected to enter Early Access on Steam in 2025.

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Amid this uncertainty, Kepler Interactive, a British publisher known for its unique portfolio, is doubling down on the traditional PC and console markets. With games like the driving survival title Pacific Drive, the soccer sim Rematch, the Metroid-inspired Ultros, and the upcoming French-inspired fantasy Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kepler is betting that unique, passion-driven games can still find an audience, even in a saturated marketplace.

Matthew Handrahan, Kepler Interactive’s senior portfolio manager, acknowledges the “pretty frightening picture” painted by current market trends. However, he believes that the focus on older games’ popularity overshadows an important truth: a dedicated audience of players still actively seeks out new games.

“The relatively small percentage of people that buy new games, I do think actually buy quite a lot of new games each year,” Handrahan explained in a recent interview. While not every player will buy every game, Kepler’s strategy is to target different pockets of players with unique interests. The publisher’s bet is that even in tough times, there’s an audience for innovative and distinctive games.

Kepler’s publishing strategy relies heavily on what Handrahan calls a “gut feeling” approach. The team looks for games that excite them and that they believe will resonate with players. While budget and production viability are still considered, the emphasis is on passion and vision. Handrahan highlights the importance of “real specificity” in a game’s concept. For example, Sifu, Kepler’s martial arts action title, stood out because it aimed to emulate the style of Hong Kong action cinema, from the martial arts moves to the camera work and editing.

He points to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Pacific Drive as other examples of games with strong, specific visions. “It’s a case of starting with an experience they wanted to create and then working their way to the gameplay that’s going to deliver that,” he said. While Kepler champions unique visions, Handrahan acknowledges the importance of market realities. He cautions developers about oversaturated genres like Metroidvanias, first-person narrative games, and 2.5D side-scrollers, where success often depends on low budgets and small teams.

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As Nor, players will work together with a mysterious, yet powerful, foxlike god known as Enki, to seek revenge against the formidable gods that threaten to destroy the lands of Kian. From Uru, the great winged guardian of the door to the Great Below, to the multi-armed Rammuha who despises and fears the explosive power of gunpowder, Nor will need to unleash her full arsenal of axe blows, flintlock weaponry, and Enki’s devastating magic to overcome the odds and restore peace to the world of Kian.

PC Requirements

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