Square Enix and Expedition 33 Developers Fuel Collaboration Speculations Following Unannounced Studio Visit

The developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 made headlines this week with their visit to Square Enix, stirring up excitement and speculation among fans regarding a potential collaboration between the two companies.

Leading Sandfall Interactive, Guillaume Broche and François Meurisse have not hidden their admiration for the Final Fantasy series. Broche has openly expressed his passion for JRPGs, particularly citing the influence of both classic and contemporary Final Fantasy titles as pivotal to his creative vision. Similarly, Meurisse reflected on nostalgic childhood favorites such as Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, and 10, noting that these references play a significant role in shaping their game design philosophy.

Fan Reactions to the Square Enix Meeting

The meeting took place on July 24, where key members of the Sandfall team—including Broche (creative director), Meurisse (producer), Tom Guillermin (art director), and Alexis Garavaryan (CEO of Kepler)—participated in what Square Enix described as a “creatively rich exchange of visions and ideas.” This has led to rampant speculation among fans regarding the nature of the visit.

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.–Guillaume Broche of Sandfall, creators of EXPEDITION 33… pic.twitter.com/hIhMNYZJ8c

— Naoki Hamaguchi / FFVII REMAKE is coming to Switch2 & XBOX🎉 (@nhamaguc) July 24, 2025

Fans quickly jumped into discussions, eagerly questioning whether this was simply a friendly meeting or the precursor to an exciting collaboration. One fan humorously speculated if they were preparing for a joint project involving Final Fantasy 18, while another remarked, “This must be such a proud moment for them! As far as I know, E33 was heavily inspired by FFX.”

Sentiments echoed across social media, with many expressing joy over the visit, as one user commented, “Genuinely happy for them to be invited by their legends. More companies should do this.”

It is easy to draw comparisons between Expedition 33 and the Final Fantasy series. Its turn-based combat system harkens back to the mechanics of Final Fantasy 10, while the emotional storytelling and dynamic party interactions bear resemblance to those in Final Fantasy 15. The game’s artistic style and whimsical world are akin to the dreamlike environments found in Final Fantasy 9 and 10. Additionally, the soundtrack captures the essence of the atmospheric music seen in classic Final Fantasy compositions.

In their travels, the Sandfall team also seized the opportunity to visit Kojima Productions during their stay in Japan, with photos circulated by Hideo Kojima showcasing their excursion through the iconic developer’s studio.

As of now, no official collaboration has been confirmed between Square Enix and Sandfall Interactive. The encounter remains a promising meeting between passionate creators, leaving the gaming community eager for what the future may hold.

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