Todd Howard Reveals His 2025 Game of the Year Pick
▼ Summary
– Todd Howard, head of Bethesda, has named Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as his personal game of the year, praising it as a unique piece of art.
– The game’s release created a minor rivalry as it launched just two days after Bethesda’s own shadow-dropped Oblivion Remastered, but this proximity did not harm its success.
– Expedition 33 has sold over 5 million copies globally and is a frontrunner at The Game Awards with a record 12 nominations.
– The title has also been the biggest third-party release of the year for the Xbox Game Pass subscription service.
– Howard confirmed that his current main project, The Elder Scrolls 6, is still a long way from release.
Todd Howard, the visionary director behind iconic franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, has revealed his personal pick for the year’s standout game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In a recent conversation, Howard praised the title as a uniquely impressive work of art, highlighting its distinct creative vision. He also mentioned looking forward to other major upcoming sequels, but made it clear that Expedition 33 holds the top spot for him.
This endorsement adds a fascinating layer to a minor industry rivalry from earlier in the year. Howard’s own company, Bethesda, unexpectedly released The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered just two days before Expedition 33 launched. Both titles were immediately available on Xbox Game Pass, leading some to speculate about competition. However, according to the publisher Kepler, the close release date did not negatively impact their game’s performance. The two projects ultimately represent very different approaches to the role-playing genre, appealing to distinct audiences.
The success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 extends far beyond Howard’s personal recommendation. The game has achieved remarkable commercial and critical acclaim, selling over five million copies globally across all platforms. It has also made history at The Game Awards, securing a record-breaking twelve nominations and positioning itself as the frontrunner for the top prize. This level of recognition underscores its widespread impact on both players and critics alike.
Furthermore, the title has proven to be a major win for the Xbox Game Pass subscription service. It stands as the platform’s most successful third-party release this year, demonstrating how high-quality, innovative games can thrive within a subscription model. This performance highlights a significant shift in how major titles find their audience and achieve commercial success.
While Howard continues his daily work on the highly anticipated The Elder Scrolls 6, a project he admits is still years away from completion, his current gaming preference is clear. In the same discussion, he touched on the evolving use of technology in development, advocating for tools that enhance rather than replace human creativity. His choice of Expedition 33 as game of the year celebrates exactly that kind of artistic achievement, marking it as a defining release in the current gaming landscape.
(Source: EuroGamer)
