The question of how many developers were behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 came to the fore during the Summer Game Fest showcase. Host Geoff Keighley highlighted the achievements of smaller gaming projects, stating that Expedition 33 was developed by what he described as a “team of under 30 developers”. This assertion has sparked considerable discussion regarding its accuracy.

While Clair Obscur has been applauded for its success both critically and commercially, there is a significant discrepancy in the number of people actually involved in its creation. “Under 30 developers” has been a common estimate referenced in the media, including in our own earlier articles.

However, this figure fails to capture the full picture. A detailed look at the game’s credits reveals that the core team is indeed around 30, yet this group only represents less than half of those credited. The majority includes a variety of external contractors and contributors who performed vital roles ranging from animation to QA testing.

For instance, detailed credits show contributions from Korean gameplay animators, QA specialists from Poland’s QLOC, sound producers from Side UK, and numerous other roles that are critical for any game’s development.

The reliance on external talent raises concerns. Misrepresenting the size of a development team might lead industry stakeholders, including publishers and investors, to underestimate the resources required for future projects. As pointed out by various industry professionals, acknowledging all contributors is essential to highlight the collaborative nature of game development.[1](https://youtu.be/04wAYTaqNkI)

---

Related Articles

• Most players ‘know next to nothing about how games are made’: New Blood devs sound off on gamedev misconceptions
• ‘You’ve seen the number of releases from AAA publishers dwindle and dwindle’: Clair Obscur’s success stems from its smaller scale
• Helldivers 2 and Palworld devs emphasize the challenges of perceived ’easy’ updates: ‘That’s half a year’s work’