Sandfall Interactive at Square Enix: Is the Next Final Fantasy Getting a French Revolution?
What if the winds of change were blowing from France? The recent visit of Sandfall Interactive to Square Enix has sparked curiosity, ignited imaginations… and fueled countless theories. When the creators of Clair Obscur meet the minds behind Final Fantasy, the entire JRPG world holds its breath.
A sudden and spectacular phenomenon, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continues to make headlines long after its release. While a DLC and an ambitious sequel are already on the horizon, the game has also caught Hollywood’s attention—so much so that a movie adaptation is officially in the works. Even Neil Druckmann, creator of the iconic The Last of Us, has expressed admiration for this French gem. In this wave of excitement, the visit of Sandfall Interactive’s developers to Square Enix takes on new significance—it may signal the beginning of a groundbreaking collaboration for the future of the Final Fantasy saga.
Image credit: Sandfall Interactive & Square Enix
A high-profile encounter
With Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 enjoying both critical and commercial success, some fans have boldly suggested that the future of Final Fantasy should take inspiration from it. Apparently, Square Enix was listening. The company’s Tokyo offices recently welcomed a very special delegation: the team from Sandfall Interactive, whose artistic direction clearly piqued the interest of the Japanese giant. While the meeting may have been mostly symbolic, it has already fueled hopes of a creative partnership between the two studios. Could this be the dawn of a new era for JRPGs?
Guillaume Broche, Francois Meurisse, Tom Guillermin from Sandfall, and Alexis Garavaryan from Kepler—creators of EXPEDITION 33—visited the Square Enix office for a creatively rich exchange of visions and ideas.
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EXPEDITION 33のクリエイターであるSandfallのGuillaume… pic.twitter.com/hIhMNYZJ8c — 浜口直樹 / FFVII REMAKE is coming to Switch2 & XBOX🎉 (@nhamaguc) July 24, 2025
Guillaume Broche, François Meurisse, Tom Guillermin from Sandfall Interactive, and Alexis Garavaryan from Kepler Interactive were hosted by Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and its upcoming sequel, Final Fantasy VII Remake Part III. On social media, Hamaguchi called it “a creatively rich exchange of visions.” The group photo—taken beside a life-sized cardboard Cloud Strife—quickly went viral. The presence of longtime producer Yoshinori Kitase only added weight to the moment.
Fans already dreaming of a shared future
On X.com, the announcement triggered a wave of enthusiastic, nostalgic, and hopeful reactions. For many fans, this encounter could mark a turning point for the Final Fantasy franchise:
- @RogueOfLightTV: “I wish I could’ve been a fly on the wall just to hear those creative minds talk.”
- @Takezo_F_: “It’s amazing to see FF7 Rebirth and Expedition 33—two of the best games I’ve ever played—come together like this.”
- @soraandrie: “Please, after the third part of the remake, bring back turn-based battles in Final Fantasy XVII.”
- @Skyboi_sah: “Let France bring Aerith back to life in FF7 Rebirth Part 3!”
All this excitement reveals a shared wish: for Square Enix to reconnect with a formula that once defined the RPG genre. At its latest shareholder meeting, the publisher acknowledged Clair Obscur’s success, saying it was “aware” of its impact—though it stopped short of confirming a return to turn-based gameplay.
A promising alliance, an open future
Despite their differing artistic directions, both studios share a passion for exceptional RPGs. Some hope that Sandfall Interactive will inspire Square Enix to rediscover its roots, while others dream that Final Fantasy veterans will pass on their storytelling and worldbuilding expertise to the new wave of French talent. While we wait for concrete announcements, this visit remains a powerful symbol: a dialogue between generations of creators, where nostalgia and innovation are no longer opposites but two sides of the same coin. Could the future of Final Fantasy be written—at least partly—in French?
And if you haven’t yet explored the world of Clair Obscur, now might be the perfect time to dive in. Watch the official trailer and let yourself be swept away by an adventure that’s captivated even the legends of video gaming.
