Back in my day, it was common for physical games to be slightly more difficult to get hold of. The lack of digital options meant that everybody clamored for physical copies, often making pre-orders essential to avoid disappointment. I vividly remember going to a store to pre-order my copy of Pokemon Black on the Nintendo DS.
In the digital age, however, that problem has become less common, with only Deluxe and Collector’s Editions typically needing to be reserved.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which launched last week, is a throwback to some old JRPGs like the Xbox 360’s Lost Odyssey, but it’s also seemingly a throwback to a time gone by, with the developers underestimating the demand for physical editions, leading it to sell out in various regions across the globe.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Developers Issue Apology After Physical Copies Of The Game Sell Out
I don’t think even the most optimistic Sandfall Interactive employee could have foreseen the success that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 would have.
Despite launching on Xbox Game Pass, which isn’t always a death knell, the game sold over a million copies in a few days, achieving something only 0.002 percent of games have managed on Steam and breaking Metacritic records in the process.
It’s this demand that meant the game sold out physically in multiple regions around the world, leading the Sandfall Interactive team to issue an apology.
«We are aware that we have sold out of physical editions at various retailers,» it said on Twitter. «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.»
Sorry, the demand has been higher than expected in many regions.
It’s another well-deserved, if slightly frustrating, honor for the team. Let’s just hope the potential Esquie plushes don’t sell out if Sandfall manages to release them in the future.
