Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Game of the Year. 50 developers. $10 million. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 just proved what a small team can do. But they weren't the only ones who tried. Ex-AAA devs have been striking out on their own for years. Some had legendary pedigrees. Some had hundreds of millions in funding. Some had both.
Most of them failed. This is what 2025 taught us about what it actually takes to win.
0:00 - An Industry in Flux
0:43 - 2025 Was All About Clair Obscur: Expedition 33!
3:43 - Telling A Story
6:02 - Simply Being "ex-AAA" Isn't Enough
7:39 - Unrealised Dreams
9:21 - Tools Of The Trade
12:20 - Raise Up The Developers
Sources:
nytimes.com/2025/12/11/arts/clair-obscur-expedition-33-sandfall.html#selection-861.0-864.0
ttps://nytimes.com/2025/12/11/arts/clair-obscur-expedition-33-sandfall.html#selection-861.0-864.0
expedition33.com/post/thank-you-from-sandfall-interactive
https://bellular.games/expedition-33-success-isnt-simple/
ign.com/articles/update-romero-games-employee-says-whole-studio-subject-to-layoffs-after-microsoft-pulls-funding-for-new-shooter-from-doom-co-creator-john-romero
https://x.com/romerogamesltd/status/1940716112922190248
eurogamer.net/doom-creator-john-romeros-cancelled-shooter-has-been-saved-with-fresh-redesign-inspired-by-elden-ring
https://bellular.games/mindseye-the-worst-game-of-2025/
https://bellular.games/oading-screen-the-devs-behind-the-worst-game-of-2025-are-suing-their-leaders/
https://bellular.games/is-this-how-to-truly-compete-without-going-free-to-play/
https://bellular.games/loading-screen-dreamhavens-having-nightmares-and-arent-we-all/
pcgamer.com/games/fps/spectre-divide-and-its-studio-are-shutting-down-after-just-six-months-the-industry-is-in-a-tough-spot-right-now
https://x.com/expedition33/status/1917500503627555303
youtube.com/watch?v=RR9HQ2C6h_4
https://bellular.games/they-did-things-the-right-way-and-failed-anyway/
Game of the Year. 50 developers. $10 million. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 just proved what a small team can do. But they weren't the only ones who tried. Ex-AAA devs have been striking out on their own for years. Some had legendary pedigrees. Some had hundreds of millions in funding. Some had both.
Most of them failed. This is what 2025 taught us about what it actually takes to win.
0:00 - An Industry in Flux
0:43 - 2025 Was All About Clair Obscur: Expedition 33!
3:43 - Telling A Story
6:02 - Simply Being "ex-AAA" Isn't Enough
7:39 - Unrealised Dreams
9:21 - Tools Of The Trade
12:20 - Raise Up The Developers
Sources:
nytimes.com/2025/12/11/arts/clair-obscur-expedition-33-sandfall.html#selection-861.0-864.0
ttps://nytimes.com/2025/12/11/arts/clair-obscur-expedition-33-sandfall.html#selection-861.0-864.0
expedition33.com/post/thank-you-from-sandfall-interactive
https://bellular.games/expedition-33-success-isnt-simple/
ign.com/articles/update-romero-games-employee-says-whole-studio-subject-to-layoffs-after-microsoft-pulls-funding-for-new-shooter-from-doom-co-creator-john-romero
https://x.com/romerogamesltd/status/1940716112922190248
eurogamer.net/doom-creator-john-romeros-cancelled-shooter-has-been-saved-with-fresh-redesign-inspired-by-elden-ring
https://bellular.games/mindseye-the-worst-game-of-2025/
https://bellular.games/oading-screen-the-devs-behind-the-worst-game-of-2025-are-suing-their-leaders/
https://bellular.games/is-this-how-to-truly-compete-without-going-free-to-play/
https://bellular.games/loading-screen-dreamhavens-having-nightmares-and-arent-we-all/
pcgamer.com/games/fps/spectre-divide-and-its-studio-are-shutting-down-after-just-six-months-the-industry-is-in-a-tough-spot-right-now
https://x.com/expedition33/status/1917500503627555303
youtube.com/watch?v=RR9HQ2C6h_4
https://bellular.games/they-did-things-the-right-way-and-failed-anyway/
