If you're holding out for the Nintendo Switch 2 port of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, sadly you might be waiting a while still. Developer Sandfall Interactive has confirmed it's still tinkering with putting the massive RPG on the console, due to technical constraints compared to other modern systems.
Automaton took the time to ask Sandfall about the Switch 2 version in a new interview. "We are interested in looking for a way to do it, but it's too early for us to announce anything at this point," Guillaume Broche, creative director of Clair Obscur, says.
"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 [5] or the Xbox Series X," Tom Guillermin, CTO and co-founder of Sandfall Interactive, adds. "So, it's an important thing for us to consider, especially given the size of our studio."
This is an unfortunate reality. Nintendo's hardware requires particular attention because it doesn't boast the raw capabilities of the PS5 or Xbox Series X, and that's not always feasible in busy studios like Sandfall.
Between supporting Clair Obscur and working on whatever the team's next project is, there probably isn't much time left for figuring out how to fit the gigantic, gorgeous adventure onto the platform. It doesn't help that the engine isn't ideal, either.
"A lot of features don't work on Switch 2," Broche says, flatly, on how Unreal Engine 5 complicates things. "They're introducing features like Lumen Lite now, which is easier to run than the standard Lumen, but these things take time to roll out," Alan Reynaud, lead character and concept artist, adds.
Hopefully Switch 2 players will get a more positive update soon. In the meantime, PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X are what you need to go save Lumiére.
