When Bethesda unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered alongside the launch of the role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many believed that only one game could emerge as the clear winner. However, according to Kepler Interactive, the publisher behind Clair Obscur, the simultaneous release not only didn't harm their game but actually benefited it by heightening the excitement for the RPG genre.

Matt Handrahan, senior portfolio manager at Kepler Interactive, shared insights with The Game Business on Clair Obscur's successful launch despite the competition. RPG enthusiasts faced a tough decision between immersing themselves in Oblivion's Cyrodiil or embarking on an adventure to confront the Paintress in Clair Obscur. The concurrent release of both titles sparked a mix of excitement and frustration among fans, leading to a playful response from Kepler Interactive.

In a post on X/Twitter, Kepler shared a cleverly edited image of Clair Obscur characters stepping into an Oblivion Gate, captioned with "omg its like barbenheimer," humorously referencing the simultaneous theatrical releases of Barbie and Oppenheimer in 2023.

omg its like barbenheimer pic.twitter.com/TN1AFzdggc

— Kepler Interactive (@Kepler_Interact) April 22, 2025

Microsoft, which owns Bethesda and had significantly supported Clair Obscur since its reveal at an Xbox Showcase the previous year, faced criticism for the shadow-drop of Oblivion, especially as both games launched on Game Pass simultaneously.

However, Handrahan remained confident, stating, "We always knew that Expedition 33 had a very specific identity. When I was in the press, I saw the Western-style RPG and the Japanese-style RPG as having quite different appeals and audiences. I knew plenty of people that would play an Elder Scrolls game that wouldn't necessarily play Final Fantasy and vice versa."

He added, "By the time we rolled around, we had momentum of our own and felt pretty confident that we could stand beside it. Factors like our price point and inclusion in Game Pass ensured a lot of interest in the game. We were confident in that. And it went as well as it possibly could have done in our eyes. Proximity to Oblivion didn't seem to harm us at all; in many ways, it just drew attention to quality RPGs that week, and everybody was thinking and talking about the genre."

Bethesda reported that Oblivion Remastered has attracted over 4 million players since its launch, although specific sales figures remain undisclosed. It, too, has seen robust concurrent player numbers on Steam.

Data from Ampere, cited by The Game Business, revealed that 35% of Clair Obscur players also played Oblivion Remastered, indicating a substantial overlap. This overlap is largely attributed to both games being available on Game Pass, with the percentage decreasing among Steam and PlayStation 5 users.

For a comprehensive guide to everything in Oblivion Remastered, check out our expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and much more.

For Clair Obscur, be sure to check out our tips on the essential things to know before diving into the game.