After dominating The Game Awards by winning most of the categories it was nominated for (a record total of nine wins), Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is now seeing another big boost to its fanbase. This time, it is happening on the Steam Deck, where more and more players are jumping in following its “Thank You” update.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 already enjoyed a massive amount of success, and you could argue that The Game Awards has helped elevate it higher. Those who had not tried it before may have given it a chance following the awards buzz. Since then, the player base has kept growing, and the game is thriving. Steam Deck users, in particular, seem to be enjoying it more than ever.

Clair Obscur is a top 10 Steam Deck game

Steam Deck Top Played charts reveal which games are being played the most on the handheld during a certain time period. They are not based on sales or reviews, but on actual playtime from users. This makes them a good way to see what Steam Deck owners are spending their time on. In the past week, (The Game Awards took place on December 11) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 climbed 29 positions and is now sitting in the 7th spot. That puts it above popular titles like Balatro, Hollow Knight: Silksong.

One big reason behind this surge is a new free update released by the developers. To thank players for their continued support, the team rolled out a large “Thank You” update at no extra cost. This update added a lot of fresh content to the game. Players can now explore a new playable environment, enjoy new music, and take on new boss battles. An official photo mode was also added, letting players capture and share moments from the game. On top of that, the update included balance changes, bug fixes, and general improvements that make the game feel more polished.

• A new, playable environment, taking the characters to new adventures… 
• Brand new music tracks by award-winning composer, Lorien Testard. 
• Challenging boss battles for late-game players to overcome within the Endless Tower. 
• An official Photo Mode, allowing players to get creative and capture their favourite moments from the game’s story and battles. 
• New text and UI game localizations into Czech, Ukrainian, Latin American Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian, bringing the total number of supported languages to 19. 
• New Quality of Life improvements, other new features, and additional improvements to the game’s performance across platforms, including on handheld PC systems.

Source: Steam

Importantly, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is now officially Steam Deck Verified. For those who are not familiar with Valve’s system, Steam Deck Verified essentially means the game runs smoothly right out of the box. Controls work well, text is readable, and no extra settings or tweaks are needed. To make things even better, the game is currently available with a 20% discount on Steam. This lower price certainly helps attract new players who were waiting for a good price before jumping in.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.