Many players are unhappy with the game being tagged as an indie title, arguing that large budgets and publishers inherently disqualify a studio from being truly independent. In Expedition 33’s case, the studio behind the game, Sandfall Interactive, was backed and published by Kepler Interactive. Kepler itself was formed through a partnership of several independent game developers and employs roughly 50 people.
Independence is defined as “free from the influence, guidance, or control of another or others; self-reliant.” This is the definition we, as writers at IndieLoop, use when determining whether a game qualifies as indie. Having a large budget while self-publishing can still make a studio independent. However, the reality is that the person writing the checks is often the one calling the shots. While some publishers claim they give studios full creative control, at the end of the day, financial backing almost always comes with influence.
With that in mind, should Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 still be considered an indie game? In our view, no. Based on the definition of “independent,” the key questions are simple: Is Expedition 33 free from outside influence or control from Kepler Interactive? Possibly—but without access to the contract details, we can’t know for certain. Is the project self-reliant? No. The game likely could not have reached its current scope or quality without Kepler’s funding and resources. Because of that, it does not meet our criteria for an indie game.
It’s unrealistic to suggest Sandfall Interactive developed Expedition 33 using bare-minimum tools or resources. If the studio needed additional technology, staff, or support to realize its vision, Kepler would naturally step in to protect its investment.
At IndieLoop, we focus on self-published and self-developed games created by studios that lack the funding or resources for large development teams and extensive marketing campaigns. That’s why, before any game is selected for coverage, we ask one simple question: “Does this game align with the true definition of what independent means?”.
