French developer Sandfall Interactive has shared its first-ever game as a team: Expedition 33, a turn-based RPG inspired by JRPG classics and action titles. It was announced for PS5 having debuted at the Xbox Games Showcase, and you can catch a good glimpse in the reveal trailer above.
With Final Fantasy XVI voice actor Ben Starr part of the cast, here's the story setup: "Once a year, the Paintress wakes to paint a cursed number upon her monolith and everyone of that age instantly turns to smoke and fades away. Year by year, that number ticks down. Tomorrow she’ll wake and paint “33.” Join Gustave, and his fellow Expeditioners as they embark on a desperate quest to break the Paintress’ cycle of death once and for all." The game releases in 2025.
What do you think of Expedition 33? Share your first impressions in the comments below.
Comments 49
This was the surprise of the show. So happy it's multiplatform
This was excellent and so, dare I say it, has been the rest of the Xbox showcase.
I half expect PlayStation will be looking nervously at their first party studios contemplating a reactive showcase announcement…
It looks glorious and it's turn based
Best game from the show so far so I'm glad to know it's coming to PS5.
@itsfoz I dont think they will and alot of the games are actually multiplatform.
Its just seems Microsoft put their hands in their pocket and paid for them to be shown.
Just shows this due to mgs being shown off here when it was revealed at playstation and both game fest and state of play were basically indie showcase.
It doesn't really matter though. Ps5 is selling regardless but I think it may slow down if they don't get their act together and pull off showcases like this.
@itsfoz yes it has made Sonys shows look poor in comparison imo.
@itsfoz I kind of predicted this would happen.
Sony, can I say, “blew it’s load” in the first few years of the PS5 as all its major studios released a game. The leaves a HUGE gap as Sony now has to wait for games to churn.
Microsoft had very little in the first few years and a ton of studios under its belt. It was only a matter of time before those games would hit the console. It appears that time for Xbox is the foreseeable future.
@itsfoz Don't know about that, most of their games lack release dates.
@Bez87 Well put it this way, I have had a PS1/PS2/PS4 and PS5 and just bought myself an Xbox Series S for Game Pass and judging by that showcase, I just made a very smart move.
@AdamNovice I think all of them were either this year or next year so PS haven’t got long to chase up
@itsfoz Tbf Xbox can afford to show a lot (literally), there was three publishers there to show their stuff and that's what 70 billion gets you. People need to accept they can't keep comparing Sony to Microsoft in terms of first party content.
This was easily one of the best games shown. LOVED the look of it.
The scenery in this trailer was absolutely stunning
Xbox showcase was a lot of fun and this game was a big surprise can't wait for this.. very surprised it's turned based but looks great
Also coming to GamePass for those who have it on Xbox. Looks fantastic!
@GamingFan4Lyf and it's about time its been long overdue 🤣
@itsfoz Even so there didn't seem to be anything that's going to shift the needle or change the perception of the air of negativity surrounding Xbox.
@UltimateOtaku91 I don't think so it just what happened to Xbox is happening to Sony further down line go it a year or 2 guess they'll start smashing it again
@Decimateh-xblz Better late than never, right?
Perhaps Microsoft is hoping to have its “PS3 Moment” with the Series consoles.
This show was awesome. Got me amped for gaming first and foremost. Wouldn’t matter if every game was multi-platform, the show was exciting in what was being shown out of devs.
Several different genres with fun experimental gamestyles, storylines, or both. It wasnt all China-based devs obviously cribbing the same Unreal5 assets.
This game kiiinda looks like what I’ve wanted out of SquareEnix for a long while now. Super amped a turn-based RPG is taking a shot, we should be celebrating this.
@Decimateh-xblz Yeah I think 2025/26 will be huge for Playstation, and I expect the same will happen to Xbox Game Studios as all their titles seem to be coming over the next two years so after that they will have a quiet period again.
@GamingFan4Lyf possibly 🤣 doubt they'll catch up to ps like. I think it's mad how much they got outsold even with lack of ps exclusives lmao so think sony kinda just cemented 1st place now for sale no matter what 🤣 but might get em catching back up with last gen people upgrading. I play a lot of indie games tbh but with some of these games coming I might be playing some big games soon 😎
@Decimateh-xblz Technically Nintendo is in 1st place… 😛
I think people forget that Switch is “current-gen”
@GamingFan4Lyf Tbf Xbox had the better showcase last year and the year before, with some of the games shown today announced back then as well, and Playstation are still out selling them 3-1. So at this point it doesn't matter what xbox show they aren't going to make much difference, atleast not this gen anyway.
@UltimateOtaku91 is it actually 3 to 1? if Google show for end of 2023 like 2 to 1 but just wondered if got licnk for actual number? see ppl online saying 5 to 1 n lot 🤣
@GamingFan4Lyf Nintendo doesn't count it's in its own league 🤣think I need to grab switch 2 n catch up with some their games tbh lol
@UltimateOtaku91 I follow great games.
Microsoft showed great games and a lot of them. Whether it “matters” from a console sales perspective or not, I can play great games. I hope it does at least boost sales a little - even if it’s just people getting a cheap Series S and a Game Pass sub.
Those stuck playing favorites will just have to miss out.
I know I won’t.
@Decimateh-xblz it was 3-1 last year, 7.6 million for xbox and 22.5 million for PS5, but total sales is more like 2 and half to one.
They got me day one with the Ben Starr casting and turn based Persona battle UI. Music and graphics seem fantastic and I can't wait to see more of this.
Had the showcase playing in the background while gaming, when I heard Clive's voice actor. I turned around to see what it was and what I saw was an amazing-looking game out of nowhere.
Super high budget, turn-based RPG with beautiful vistas and interesting monster design. Yes please.
This looks bloody fantastic.
This and E-Day just stole it. Overall a really great presentation. Stalker 2 looks amazing. It was very 1st person heavy though imo. Playstation finds themselves in a unique position. My guess is they let the dust settle and announce a Playstation Showcase in like September/October to boost holiday sales. They will need to have at least 2 if not 3 big first party games to release next year imo.
@Frmknst I get sometimes it can clutter up a screen but it totally helps correlate damage done with damage % to overall health of the enemy. Without knowing how much damage you are doing relative to their health how can you properly plan attacks or strategise for a boss battle/hard battle. This really only needs to apply to RPGs of this nature though
Loving the artstyle a lot! I'll be keeping an eye on this one! ^^
This will be a reality test for a turn-based game. Marvel turn based game did not do well last year. Ifeel this would not do well too. Turn-based games are a niche genre today.
Hate the art style, but big turn-based RPG makes it interesting enough.
I think this game sparked my interest the most during the Xbox Showcase
This feels like it was made for me. Will be watching with interest. Microsoft brought the goods today.
@LordServbot I was gonna say, it reminds me of Legend of Dragoon's addition system. It looks fun.
This looks really good. Probably my favourite game shown out of the show.
@Frmknst I think in some games you can turn them off. But most people who play RPGs like to see how much damage they did.
Definitely the game of the show for me. This looked absolutely stunning I'm 100% on board.
This is very intriguing, and Ben Star voicing it makes it a slam dunk.
this looked fantastic!
Artsy, let's see more gameplay.
Looks like a spiritual successor to lost odyssey combat and I'm all for that
this might be the biggest surprise of the show. i don't think i have ever seen a AAA "jrpg" developed by a western developer before. this has to be a first? impressive reveal. main concerns at this time: unproven developer and it looks like it could be incredibly linear (comes across as a walking simulator with boss battles). concerns aside, hope it turns out good.
This looks very interesting, I love the look and speed of the turn-based fights! It’ll be interesting to see if it’s quite linear or opens up.
Looks incredible! Definitely looking out for this one.
This looks fantastic! Miss the JRPG turn-based combat in games and this just blows me away. Will def be getting this!
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