Summary
Kepler Interactive, the publisher ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33, took to social media to state how the game’s release window was timed with the shadow drop ofThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. Using the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon of July 2023 as a metaphor, theClair Obscur: Expedition 33publishers made light of the situation with their post.
On April 22,Bethesda and Microsoft shadow droppedOblivion Remastered, with both a Standard and a Digital Deluxe Edition now available for players to purchase. As one of the worst-kept secrets in recent gaming history,Oblivion Remasteredwas made alongside Virtuos. The standard edition includes the base game and two expansions,The Shivering IslesandKnights of the Nine. The Digital Deluxe Edition packs in some additional armor along with a digital art book and soundtrack.Oblivion Remasteredwas also developed in Unreal Engine 5, which Sandfall Interactive also used to developClair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Although bothClair Obscur: Expedition 33andOblivion Remasteredoffer different RPG experiences, the release window for both games drew the attention of the former’s publisher.As reported by IGN, Kepler Interactive took to Twitter to compare the launch ofOblivion RemasteredandExpedition 33to the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon that occurred in movie theaters on the weekend of July 08, 2025. Kepler Interactive’s post included an image of promotional artwork fromExpedition 33with one noticeable change. The center part featuring The Paintress was replaced with an Oblivion Gate fromThe Elder Scrolls' fourth entry, as characters fromExpedition 33gazed into its fiery depths.
Kepler Interactive Makes A Hilarious Barbenheimer Comparison Post
The Barbenheimer phenomenon is a popular term forwhen the filmsBarbieandOppenheimermade their theatrical debut in the US. The stark juxtaposition between the bleak and grittyOppenheimerand the colorful, family-friendlyBarbiewas a hit with moviegoers, as both films were among the highest-grossing movies of 2023 and earned several awards and nominations.
In response to the post, fans commented about how close the release windows ofOblivion RemasteredandExpedition 33were, and wondered if the timing of the former would detract from the latter’s April 24 launch. AlthoughOblivion Remasteredis an open-world RPG that can take upwards of 80 hours to beat its main story and some side quests,Expedition 33’s main and side storiescan take between 30 and 60 hours to complete.
Expedition 33will joinOblivion Remasteredon Xbox Game Pass, giving players an additional and affordable way to play both games. Only time will tell how much time players will spend between each role-playing experience.
