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The video game industry will learn the wrong lessons from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, worries co-star Ben Starr

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 voice actor Ben Starr wants the video game industry to learn the right lessons from the game’s success

News by Joshua Lapin-Bertone, Contributing writer

Published on Thu Mar 19 2026

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What makes a successful video game? It depends on who you ask. For some, it’s dynamic gameplay, for others it’s a compelling story and sharp graphics. Making a successful game is harder than it seems, as studios have struggled to keep up with an evolving industry and consumer trends.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has plenty to be proud of. The fantasy RPG game received high critical praise from players and game journalists. It has sold over 5 million copies and won nine awards at The Game Awards, including Game of the Year.

With the game’s success, there is little doubt that developers will try to replicate what made Clair Obscur great. Ben Starr, who plays Verso in the game, is afraid the industry will learn the wrong lessons.

“I think when the opportunistic fingers of capitalism try to take apart this game and its success, I fear they will ask the wrong questions,” Ben Starr says during a spotlight panel at Emerald City Comic Con 2026. “They will ask how it was made. They will ask the how of it all. The 33 people, the environment, what is the how? But the question they should be asking is the why.”

“The why is the reason why this is successful, and if you can find the answer to the why, you will be able to replicate the success. And I think capitalism is unwilling to ask the why because they’re interested in the how.”

Interesting food for thought. The question is, will game developers listen?

Watch the full Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 panel with Ben Starr, Aliona Baranova, and Jennifer English here:

The gaming industry has come a long way since Pong blew all our minds in the 70s. We've got everything you need to know about the next big thing in games. Of course, Grand Theft Auto VI is going to be the big game of 2026, but there are plenty of other games coming out between now and then. Here is our starter guide for every gamer:

And be sure to check Popverse regularly for the latest gaming news.

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Joshua Lapin-Bertone: Joshua is a pop culture writer specializing in comic book media. His work has appeared on the official DC Comics website, the DC Universe subscription service, HBO Max promotional videos, the Batman Universe fansite, and more. In between traveling around the country to cover various comic conventions, Joshua resides in Florida where he binges superhero television and reads obscure comics from yesteryear.