Naoki Hamaguchi, creator of Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, has publicly lauded indie RPG clair Obscur: Expedition 33, naming it his game of the year. he further expressed a desire to develop a similar "AA" title at Square Enix, focusing on a highly refined, concentrated experiance.
This praise extends beyond personal preference; Square Enix recently collaborated with Clair Obscur developer Sandfall on a guest art project. Hamaguchi specifically highlighted the game's ability to excel by deeply focusing on a single element, a contrast to the expansive nature of AAA titles.