More than five million. This is the number of copies sold by the Montpellier studio Sandfall Interactive of its first game, Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33since its release on April 24. A commercial success coupled with a critical triumph like the French video game sector had not experienced for a long time. On the Metacritic site, a reference on the subject, Chiaroscuro has even become the best-rated game by users, all platforms and eras combined. Not bad for a first game developed by a small team of around thirty people…
The keys to success? An original and poetic universe, inspired by the novel The Backwind Horde by Alain Damasio and Belle Époque France, endearing characters, high-level artistic direction, and effective game mechanics paying homage to J-RPGs (Japanese role-playing games). So many elements whose juxtaposition does not necessarily predict future success, as the quality of a game depends above all on a subtle balance between its components.
With its universe where painters have the right of life and death over the worlds they create, Chiaroscuro has attracted the biggest stars of the industry like Neil Druckmann (The Last of Us). But the greatest recognition came from Tokyo, where the Sandfall Interactive team was invited by Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear, Death Stranding), one of the most influential creators in the sector. They were also invited by Square Enix to a creative exchange with the teams from its legendary saga Final Fantasyto which the Japanese publisher intends to breathe new life.
Towards a Grammy nomination?
Founded in 2020 by Guillaume Broche, François Meurisse and Tom Guillermin, former Ubisoft employeesSandfall Interactive is now being courted by the biggest publishers. And Chiaroscuro continues to reap the rewards. Already distinguished in several international trade shows (notably Asian), the French title is a favorite for the Game Awards, the video game equivalent of the Oscars. Chiaroscuro has also received strong support from the director of the remake of Final Fantasy VIIor the boss of Xbox, Phil Spencer, who see it as the game of the year.
The Laced Record label, which publishes its soundtrack, is even aiming for two nominations for the Grammy Awards: in the category of best soundtrack for a video game or interactive media, but also for best song for a visual media, with Light of Drôme Lorien Testard and Alice Duport-Percier. This would be a first: never has a piece taken from a game competed in this category, often monopolized by cinema, and which is among its winners Celine DionBruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga or Billie Eillish. A nomination would be a consecration. As for a victory… Impossible? Not French!
