Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the biggest success stories of 2025 so far, and it seems like everyone loves the game. And of course, everyone is congratulating the team at Sandfall Games and Kepler Interactive, the publisher. But why is Bandai Namco posting a congratulatory message on social media?
I don’t know about you, but my mind immediately went to a potential collab. Bandai Namco wasn’t involved in the production of the game and isn’t even the publisher, so what’s up with the directed post? Are Verso and Maelle about to join the ranks of Tekken or something? Or is it just a nothingburger that I’m looking way too much into?
Why is Bandai Namco congratulating Expedition 33 like this?
The speculation comes from recent posts that Bandai Namco posted on social media. The company posted on several of its Southeast Asian channels and congratulated Kepler Interactive and Sandfall Games on the success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. And yes, this is what I think might be a hint to a collab in the future.
It’s been one year since @SandfallGames & @Kepler_Interact revealed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33—and what a journey it’s been. Millions have joined the expedition, shared art, grief, joy, and music. Thank you for making this magic real.
Tomorrow comes. Always. pic.twitter.com/3K15ra8EBd
— Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia (@BandaiNamcoSEA) June 9, 2025
While that might sound lame, that’s exactly what fans thought, too. While it might be more of a joke than a real expectation, fans on Reddit were quick to suggest that a collab might be the reason for this. “Verso is coming to Tekken,” says one of the most upvoted comments on the post.
Fans have already shown loads of interest in a Verso and Renoir mod in Tekken, so this theory isn’t far-fetched. While Bandai Namco isn’t the global publisher of Expedition 33, the company is the exclusive distributor of the game across East and Southeast Asia, excluding Japan.
Why is Bandai Namco promoting Expedition 33?
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So put your pitchforks down because Bandai Namco does have legitimate ties to the game, even if it’s mostly behind the scenes. Much of Expedition 33‘s surprise success is because of Kepler Interactive’s focus on smaller “AA” titles. With titles like Sifu, Pacific Drive, and Ultros under its belt, Kepler continues to support bold, design-driven experiences.
What’s next for Expedition 33 after this huge success so early on?
If you’re from the Tekken community, you know one thing pretty well. Bandai Namco isn’t shy about doing wild collaborations and bringing unexpected faces. After seeing guest appearances like Final Fantasy XV’s Noctis to Walking Dead’s Negan, a Tekken 8 appearance by Verso or even Maelle isn’t out of the impossible.
Sandfall Interactive has confirmed that a follow-up to Expedition 33 is on the horizon, though details are scarce. “There will be another video game, for sure,” Meurisse shared with GamesIndustryBiz in a recent interview. There’s also the possibility of a DLC for the game, but there hasn’t been any official news on that either.
Nothing is confirmed yet. But Bandai Namco’s recent behavior doesn’t feel random. Maybe I’m crazy, but if this crossover actually happens? Well, let’s just say the Mishimas better prepare to be Gommaged. What do you think? Do you think the company is doing what any other distributor would do? Or is there something else?
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
