Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has become one of the most notable modern RPGs, drawing comparisons to Square Enix’s Final Fantasy franchise. However, longtime Final Fantasy producer Yoshinori Kitase has welcomed those similarities, saying he is pleased that Sandfall Interactive took inspiration from the series when developing its own RPG.
Speaking to IGN at Lucca Comics & Games 2026, Kitase discussed the creative relationship between games and the different forms of entertainment that influence developers. He also revealed that his own work on Final Fantasy was shaped by Star Wars, including some familiar character names and one of Final Fantasy 10’s most recognisable minigames.
Kitase Welcomes Clair Obscur’s Final Fantasy Inspirations
During the IGN interview, Kitase explained that he had spoken with the creators of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and appreciated how they used Final Fantasy as inspiration to develop something original.
“I’m actually very happy about the fact that they have been so inspired by Final Fantasy and they created a new game from that,”
Kitase said.
He compared this creative exchange to his own experience growing up with movies, particularly Star Wars. According to Kitase, developers naturally absorb ideas from the entertainment they enjoy and eventually incorporate those influences into their own projects.
He described this exchange of inspiration between creators as something positive for the gaming industry.
Star Wars Inspired Final Fantasy 10’s Blitzball and Biggs and Wedge
Kitase also revealed two specific examples of how Star Wars influenced the franchise. The first involves Biggs and Wedge, recurring character names introduced in Final Fantasy VI. They were named after Biggs Darklighter and Wedge Antilles, the Rebel pilots from the original Star Wars movie.
The more surprising connection involves Final Fantasy 10’s Blitzball. Kitase revealed that the fictional underwater sport borrowed its concept from the podracing sequence in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
“I used an idea from Star Wars Episode 1 where there’s this [pod] race and the fact of using sport inside a fantasy context, I took this idea directly from Star Wars,”
he explained.
Kitase admitted that his admiration for Star Wars initially made him cautious about borrowing too much from the franchise because he did not want his games to feel like copies.
His comments highlight how creative influences can travel between different franchises, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continuing the same tradition that helped shape Final Fantasy.
