Darlings, Sandfall's Guillaume Broche just dropped the most deliciously unbothered quote of the week: "Maybe people won't like it. That's life." The Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director and studio founder made it crystal clear they aren't sweating the sophomore slump after their BAFTA/DICE sweep and millions sold. They didn't craft that turn-based French fantasy banger to chase trends or please the crowd, and the sequel (or whatever's next) won't be any different.

While the industry chases safe live-service money and Xbox resets everything, this little French indie is over here trusting its instincts like it's 2005 and Persona 5 camera work is still fresh. Broche and lead writer Jennifer Svedberg-Yen both hammered home the same point: chasing broad appeal kills the heart of the thing. They've got ideas, five extra years of experience on the team, and zero interest in becoming the next Ubisoft clone.

It's giving main character energy in a sea of corporate cosplay. Sandfall keeps its independence under Kepler, racked up over 6 million copies, French presidential nods, and still refuses to play the "what do the fans want" game. Refreshing? Babe, it's practically foreplay for anyone tired of safe sequels and trend-chasing slop.

Whatever they cook next, the vibe is already set: authentic, risky, and unapologetically theirs. The rest of us are just here for the show.