Shuhei Yoshida advised Expedition 33 devs to avoid “turn-based RPG” label

Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida revealed at the Busan Indie Connect Festival 2026 that he advised the developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 against marketing the title as a “turn-based RPG”.

While acting as a consultant for publisher Kepler Interactive, Yoshida played an early demo of the Sandfall Interactive title approximately two years before its release. Although impressed by the combat mechanics—which he compared to his previous work on The Legend of Dragoon—he warned that the “turn-based RPG” label carried a stigma of being outdated or slow, which could cause players to overlook the game.

Following this advice, the developers and publisher pivoted to describing the combat system as “reactive turn-based battles.” This shift in terminology highlighted the game's unique blend of traditional strategic commands with real-time elements like dodges and parries. The strategy proved successful, with the game achieving significant commercial and critical milestones following its launch.