According to Kotaku, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from Sandfall Interactive set a new record at The Game Awards 2025 by winning nine awards, surpassing The Last of Us Part II’s seven wins from 2020. The studio immediately shadow-dropped a free mini-DLC for the game that same night, which includes a new area called “Verso’s Drafts,” new late-game bosses, more Luminas and Weapons, extra costumes, and a photo mode. The game is also currently discounted to $40, down from its normal $50 price, on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox until December 16. It remains available on Xbox Game Pass. The DLC was teased earlier this year and its photo mode features dozens of filters for capturing the game’s cinematic scenes.
A Masterclass In Momentum
Here’s the thing: winning awards is great, but capitalizing on that spotlight is a whole different skill. Sandfall Interactive just executed a perfect play. Instead of letting the buzz fade into a week of congratulatory tweets, they gave millions of viewers watching the show an instant reason to care. “Oh, that game that just won everything? You can play new stuff in it… right now.” It’s a genius move that converts hype into immediate engagement. Basically, they turned their award show moment into a content drop event.
The Value Play Versus The Industry
Now, let’s talk about that price. A $50 base game (currently $40) that just swept the biggest awards in the industry, is on Game Pass, *and* is getting substantial free DLC? That’s a stark contrast to the standard $70 price tag for many big-budget titles, some of which then sell you a $15 cosmetic skin. Sandfall is building incredible goodwill. They’re positioning Clair Obscur not just as a critical darling, but as a *generous* one. In a landscape where players are increasingly skeptical of live-service models and aggressive monetization, this feels like a breath of fresh air. It makes you wonder if other studios will take note, or if they’ll just see it as leaving money on the table.
Who Loses Here?
So who does this hurt? Honestly, any other mid-tier or AA RPG that launched around the same time and is trying to maintain a player base. When the award-winning game is not only cheaper but also actively dropping new free content, it sucks all the oxygen out of the room. Why would a player jump into something else when the game everyone is talking about is both rewarding their time *and* their wallet? This DLC isn’t just content; it’s a strategic barrier. It keeps the community entrenched and active, which is the ultimate goal for any single-player game hoping to have legs beyond its launch window. Sandfall isn’t just celebrating a win—they’re securing their game’s future.
