Yoshida told Expedition 33 makers to drop the 'turn-based RPG' label

Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida said at Busan Indie Connect Festival 2026 that he warned Sandfall Interactive not to market Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a 'turn-based RPG,' fearing the label would cause players to overlook it. The team instead used 'reactive turn-based battles.' Yoshida, consulting for publisher Kepler Interactive after leaving PlayStation in 2025, likened the combat to The Legend of Dragoon, a title he produced.