Do you want to play Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on Switch 2? Since the launch of Nintendo’s console, fans have been clamouring for the breakout RPG to come to the platform – and we’ve seen hints from the studio that a port is something it would be willing to explore in the future.
But it probably won’t be as straightforward as simply porting the game across to Nintendo’s platform, and now – in a new interview with Automaton – Sandfall Interactive has outlined the realities of getting a version of the game running on Switch 2.
“It’s a big technical challenge because we tried to do something beautiful with the game, but of course, the Switch 2 is not as powerful as the PlayStation or the Xbox Series X,” notes Tom Guillermin, chief technical officer and lead programmer at Sandfall Interactive. “So, it’s an important thing for us to consider, especially given the size of our studio.” Guillermin goes on to note that a lot of features on Unreal Engine 5 – the tech the game is built on – “don’t work on Switch 2”.
“[Epic is] introducing features like Lumen Lite now, which is easier to run than the standard Lumen, but these things take time to roll out, so we’ll have to consider the updates coming from Unreal Engine to determine what to do,” adds lead character artist, Alan Reynaud.
So, when can we expect the game on Switch 2? There’s no set time, says Sandfall Interactive CEO and creative director Guillaume Broche. “We are interested in looking for a way to do it, but it’s too early for us to announce anything at this point.”
Consider our expectations measured, then. It’s fair enough, really, that the team is taking its time with something as complex as a Switch 2 port: Clair Obscur was created by a studio of around 30 people (with extra outsourced support). It sold a million copies in three days. In terms of what comes next, Broche himself has said that he doesn’t really care what people think of its next game – a refreshing tonic to an industry increasingly chasing trends and relying on remakes and sequels in order to ensure returns on investment.
