Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Selling Out in Stores as Devs Pledge More Physical Stock

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is looking more and more like one of the standout video games of the year. But if you're looking to grab yourself a physical copy, you might be waiting a little bit longer.

As a lifelong fan of role-playing-games -- and Japanese RPGs in particular -- I'm feeling like Clair Obscur, with its gorgeous visuals, unique story and new spin on classic turn-based combat, might've been made just for me. I'm so down for everything about it that I've committed to getting a physical copy for the PlayStation 5. But there's a hitch: Those copies have been sold out everywhere near me since the game came out.

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On Wednesday, game creator Sandfall Interactive acknowledged that physical copies of the game have been sold out at some retailers and said distributors were working to get more copies back in stores.

"We are aware that we have sold out of physical editions at various retailers," the post said. "Our distribution partners are looking into re-stocking! Sorry, the demand has been higher than expected in many regions. Please stay in touch with your local stores for more info."

Kepler Interactive, the publisher of Clair Obscur, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

What is Clair Obscur?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a French RPG developed by Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive, with stylish, cutting-edge Unreal Engine 5 visuals and a modern twist on classic turn-based combat. Set in a fantasy world inspired by France's Belle Epoque period, the game follows a crew of heroes -- the titular Expedition 33 -- who set out to kill a wrathful goddess known as a The Paintress before she can carry out an annual ritual that kills everyone of a certain age. The story boasts depth and production value that would make Hollywood blush, and a cast to boot, including major actors like Charlie Cox and Andy Serkis.

Launched on April 24, the reception to the game so far has been glowing. On Metacritic, it has a critic's rating of 92 out of 100, and a user score of 9.7 out of 10, which is suspected to be the highest in the site's history. In his review, CNET's own David Lumb hailed the game as "achingly beautiful" and said it "will be celebrated for its many excellences, and deservedly so." While new IP can tend to struggle in the gaming market, Clair Obscur seems to have translated this acclaim into sales, with Sandfall Interactive reporting that 1 million copies had shipped in the first three days.