Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's stripped-back UI puts immersion first

While generally a staple in modern games, the inclusion of UI features like minimaps can often draw players away from the world around them. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 aims to address that, with the team shedding light on its minimalist approach to UI design.

In an interview with Eurogamer, the game's producer and Sandfall Interactive COO, François Meurisse, discussed how minimaps can affect the in-game experience - particularly how they can leave players staring at UI elements rather than engaging with the world itself.

"Then there's a mini map - you can end up relying on it. And we want players to discover the world as the expedition does it."

Exploration is at the core of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, as players set off to stop a god-like villain in a surreal, French-inspired world. While there's no minimap, the developers have added a compass - a late addition to help guide players without overwhelming the screen.

"What we added on the world map that wasn't in the preview demo is just a compass, so you can find north easily and get your direction more easily."

Challenge is the name of the game in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - and that extends beyond combat into its world design. The game's stripped-back UI is just one part of a broader philosophy influenced by FromSoftware titles like Dark Souls and Sekiro. In fact, the game's director, Guillaume Broche, is a former Sekiro speedrunner - a detail that explains the emphasis on immersion, difficulty, and player-driven discovery.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to release on April 24th for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and will also be available day one on Xbox Game Pass.